GMM sees property tax stalemate
The community voiced their objections during ae municipal consultation meeting held in the South hall in Ext 18 on August 20.
eMBALENHLE – eMbalenhle South residents rejected paying property taxes to the Govan Mbeki Municipality.
They voiced their rejection during the municipal consultation meeting held in the South hall in Ext 18 on August 20. The meeting was for consultation with wards 12, 13 and 14 residents.
Jabu Zwane, the MMC for Revenue Enhancement and the Ward 14 councillor told the residents the municipality had appointed a company to do a property evaluation roll across its jurisdiction.
Zwane said owners of properties worth less than R50 000 would not have to pay the property tax.
“The purpose of this meeting is to explain the Valuation Roll process, how it works, the effect it will have on the value of a property and the tax payable per property.
“The council appointed the Lutendo Property Group as the municipality’s valuator to compile the 2025-2030 municipal valuation roll,” said Zwane.
Community member Jabulani Mthimkhulu asked why the municipality wants to implement a valuation roll before fixing the existing service challenges.
Mthimkhulu said the whole of eMbalenhle South has been mined out underneath, and house walls in the area are cracking.
“We would appreciate it if our municipality prioritises stabilising our underground soil and service delivery before they try to evaluate the houses for profit.
“If you walk around Ward 12, electricity poles are falling over, and we do not have roads. What do you want to evaluate?” asked Mthimkhulu.
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Residents accused the municipality of wanting to charge them for houses they had built with their hard-earned money.
“My husband built our house with his retirement money. No one is working in our family. Now the municipality wants us to pay rent for our own house.
“Does this mean we are supposed to live in a shack because when you build yourself and your family a house, you must pay the municipality?” said another resident.
The upset residents told Zwane to return to his office and ponder delivering services to the community before he could talk about the property tax.
The community then walked out, which left Zwane and the municipal officials in an empty hall.
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