Manie Kriel, Chairperson of the Business Chamber and Pierre Engelbrecht, treasurer of the Phalaborwa Home Owners Association, held a private meeting with advocates this week discussing the strategy going forward.
According to Kriel, the municipality is dragging their feet with the relevant documents requested by the committee, but this is not going to stop them.
A similar case happened in Louis Trichardt and the council lost.
Kriel says: “We have a good chance of winning and there is also a very good chance that we will get the fees back as well, which will put money back into the pockets of homeowners”.
Last month it was reported that the committee fighting the validity of the Valuation Roll was to have a meeting with the Premier, but the appointment was never met, showing the lack of interest at Provincial level.
Now the committee has met with advocates and is ready to take the municipality to the Constitutional Court to have the recent valuation roll declared void.
“We are definitely going to court, for us it is about the quality of the valuations” Kriel said.
Kriel explained that the valuations are putting potential buyers off as Phalaborwa is now the most expensive place to live in South Africa.
With more than 400 houses currently on the market and the exodus of contractors resulting in more and more rental properties available, homeowners are feeling the burden of elevated taxes along with loss of income.
Kriel asks that neighbours talk to each other about this campaign and that even more people join the fight.
“We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the fund making it possible for us to get to this point” says Kriel.
Ratepayers are urged to continue paying their R200 once off contributions towards this cause at Homelet or the Bus stop or directly into the PHB Properties Capitec account.
Account number 143 741 3623 with branch code 470010.
A copy of your water and lights statement and the proof of payment should then be mailed to pierre.e@ telkomsa.net. Inquiries may be directed to Manie Kriel on 083 627 2563 or to Pierre Engelbrecht on 083 408 0120.
