Class action lawsuit hopes to stop property valuations

“In these tough financial times, RAG will not sit by while many in our community are forced to pay several thousand rands more in rates every month because of a flawed and inaccurate Ekurhuleni Property Valuation Roll,” said Marina Constas, chairperson of Residents Action Group (RAG) Bedfordview.

Following a flood of complaints by Bedfordview residents, RAG has announced that it will spearhead a class-action lawsuit against the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) to halt the implementation of what many believe is an erroneous and invalid 2021 to 2025 Ekurhuleni Property Valuation Roll.

“Many residents believe their properties have been incorrectly valued. Hundreds of objections from Bedfordview residents have been received, and RAG has joined forces with various other stakeholders, including several Bedfordview residents’ associations, to ensure our community’s concerns are heard and acted upon by the municipality,” said Constas.

She noted that some Bedfordview residents will have to pay between R3 000 and R4 000 a month more in rates if the erroneous property valuations are applied.

“This is unacceptable, and we call on the city manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi, Ekurhuleni mayor, Mzwandile Masina, and Gauteng premier, David Makhura, to urgently review the 2021 to 2025 Ekurhuleni Property Valuation Roll. Until such time, as the complaints, inaccuracies and lack of credibility have been addressed, we expect the municipality to use the old roll,” she said.

Constas reported that RAG had met with legal specialists to plan the way forward, and that RAG’s legal action will include calling for a detailed record of the tender process for the outsourced company that undertook the valuations.

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The Ekurhuleni Property Valuation roll was published on February 24 for public participation. The objection period as advertised will end on June 18. Constas urged residents to continue with their own objections until then.

“Keep signing the petitions. Lodge your own objections. More information on the class-action lawsuit against the CoE and what residents can do to get involved will be shared via RAG’s social media platforms, as well as by other community and neighbourhood groups and residents’ associations. Look out for updates, but in the meantime, everyone must continue with their objections,” Constas said.

One party has already filed a motion for the CoE to extend the period for which the current valuation roll remains valid while the new roll is reviewed. According to that motion, the Ekurhuleni Property Valuation roll for 2021 to 2025 reflects numerous errors, including unreasonable increases and decreases in property values, as well as some properties being omitted from the roll completely.

The motion stated the valuation roll shows residential and commercial property values in Ekurhuleni increasing between 10 per cent and 2 615 per cent. It also reflects decreases between 10 per cent and 80 per cent.

There is also inconsistency, with valuations of similar properties in the same suburbs differing drastically on the roll. RAG is a non-profit, community initiative that was founded more than 19 years ago by Bedfordview residents for Bedfordview residents.

“RAG’s goal is to keep our suburb safe, clean and beautiful, to benefit all and unite and uplift our community. Our community’s wellbeing is RAG’s reason for being, so we are proud to take up the cudgels on behalf of our residents in this matter that affects so many lives and livelihoods,” Constas said.

The NEWS requested comment from the City of Ekurhuleni on the launch of legal action against its valuation roll. An enquiry was sent to the City on May 12 and comment was requested on May 15.

This is a developing story and comment will be added once received.

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