Inaccurate Mpumalanga municipal valuations

Farmers were outraged last MONTH after an Emakhazeni valuation roll revealed that farm prices in the Dullstroom, Machadodorp, Waterval- Boven and Belfast
areas of Mpumalanga had been set at a staggering R25 000/ha – although according to a local farmer, agricultural land has been selling at between R1 800 and R5 000 per hectare in the area. The land was valued by the municipality to enforce the Municipal Property Rates Act of 2004. Emakhazeni mayor Linkie Mahlahla
said it is the responsibility of landowners to comment. Should no queries be received, the valuation roll will be accepted. Mahlahla said the municipality had published
advertisements inviting farmers to submit queries in two local newspapers – Middelburg Observer (26 January) and Lowvelder (23 January). She added that letters were sent out to all landowners. His statement was contradicted by Barry Smith, secretary of the Machadodorp Farmers’ Union. “Neither I, nor any landowner
I’ve spoken to have received these letters.” Smith found out about this roll for the first time on 5 April during a farmers’ forum meeting with the municipality. On his request the municipality granted an extension on queries. 26 April, handed over 1 020 written
objections against the valuation. Democratic Alliance councillor Ernst van den Berg was one of the formal objectors. He based his arguments on the Municipal Rates Act. He said the law stipulates that market value should be used. “majority of the properties are grossly overvalued.” he second point he highlighted was the fact that the municipality must mail or hand over letters to all owners of property
listed on the valuation roll to notify them of the valuation. “Since the vast majority
of the property owners who have their property listed on the valuation roll were not in accordance with the above-mentioned criteria, the process is illegal.”
Bernard Green of Dullstroom told Farmer’s Weekly they were preparing to sue the Emakhazeni municipality for stress caused by the announcement of this bill, whether it’s passed or not. “Many farmworkers had to suffer the stress of maybe losing their jobs because of this,” he said. “This situation was handled very unprofessionally – you can’t scare people like that. Some of the farmers in this area are over 80 years old!” Green is currently finalising an investigation and will then take action.
any feel this valuation is illegal because the valuers never stepped on to the various farms. Ben Fouché, head of the Institute for Professional Valuers, said according to the Property Rates Act, it is optional for valuers to set foot on to the property. However, he added that it is nearly impossible to then provide an accurate valuation figure.
ahlahla confirmed that this venture has cost the municipality R627 000. She added that people should realise this roll had not yet been approved. A team is currently
investigating all queries submitted and the municipality should reach a conclusion
in the first week of May. – Susan Botes