Suzan Gogotya (73) has been struggling to get pensioner’s rebates at the City of Joburg Municipality for over the past three years.
The maximum value of her property is worth R1 190 000 and was registered as a Close Corporation [CC] way back in 1990.
She had only received rebates once in June last year.
Her account had been in arrears and she only pay through arrangements since she cannot afford to settle the whole bill.
Despite the municipality’s rebates, Gogotya had struggled to fully change the property’s title deed to her name.
“I initially registered my property through my attorney and I am battling to change it to my name, they [Deed’s Office] only transferred all the shares to my name since it is registered as a Close Corporation,” she complained.
The title of her deed had been a stumbling block although she owns 100 per cent shares of the property.
The title was registered on her attorney’s details and this had prevented her from receiving rebates from the municipality.
She had apparently tried numerous steps to solve her predicament and it has been difficult.
“I just turned 73, should I continue to suffer because of this problem?” Gogotya asked.
Revenue and customer relations communications officer from the City of Joburg, Stan Maphologela, said it was the City’s policy to approve rebates for pensioners whose property was registered on their names.
“If the property is not registered on her name that rebate will not be approved,” Maphologela said.
He also said it was advisable for Gogotya to consult with her attorney and try to solve her title deed problem before applying to the municipality.
“It is the City’s policy to ensure that any customer applying for rebates are the rightful owners of the property,” concluded Maphologela.
