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Joburg property valuation public participation process starts in February 2023

OUTA recently raised concerns with the City of Johannesburg over the adequacy of the public consultation process in the compilation of the new valuation roll, General Valuation Roll for 2023 (GVR 2023), and asked for an extended deadline for public submissions. The original deadline was 25 November.

The City’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance, Julie Suddaby, has told OUTA that there will be a further public consultation process next year so there is no need for an extension. The City had given residents an opportunity to submit information on their properties to help valuers prepare the draft GVR 2023. MMC Suddaby told OUTA that the November process was completely voluntary and that residents will still have an opportunity to participate in the formal valuation roll public comment process in 2023. 

In early November, the City had called on Johannesburg property owners to send their information by 25 November to the City which could help with valuing their properties before it drafted GVR 2023 (see here). On 17 November 2022, OUTA, through its Community Action Network (CAN) initiative, wrote to the City, asking it to ensure meaningful public participation and limit administrative burdens on the public by giving more clarity to property owners on what information they need to submit to the City to ensure a fair valuation of their property. The property rates are based on the property valuations, so it is essential for the valuation roll to be correct. The draft GVR 2023 is due to be published in February for public comment.

“We appreciate the City engaging with us to resolve this matter and understand that there is no need for the deadline date of 25 November 2022 to be extended to 15 December 2022. That said, we believe that the City needs to consider the rest of our requests to ensure a smooth and efficient process of compiling the valuation roll that affords property owners a fair, engaging and convenient experience in dealing with accurate property valuations and thus fair property rates in these troubling times,” said Tshepo Kgaladi, Inland Region Manager for OUTA’s Community Action Network (CAN) initiative.

The City said that it is serious about public participation and that they want property owners to participate effectively in the compiling of the valuation roll and reassured the public that the valuers are professionals that act independently of the City to ensure that property owners are charged fair rates. 

More information on the 2023 property valuation roll should be available to the public early 2023. 

More information

A soundclip with comment by Tshepo Kgaladi, Inland Region Manager for OUTA’s Community Action Network (CAN) initiative, is here.

More information on OUTA's Community Action Network is here.