WARD 72 NEWS
• New Tariffs Start on 1 July 2018. The new tariffs will kick in next month and your bill reflect the increases. To download a summary of the most common tariffs, please click here. Note that if you have a lodged an objection to your valuation and have an OBJ#, you can continue to pay your old rates charges until your objection has been processed. Once processed, you will then have to pay the rates based on the new amount plus interest. I would advise that you rather pay the rates based on the amount you submitted in your objection: the formula is (Municipal Value in Rand - R350 000) x 0.007345 / 12. There is no VAT charged on property rates.
• Valuation Objections. The City's valuers are still processing the objections and you will be notified via post or email with the outcome. Quite a few objectors (me included) have already been contacted and asked to provide missing information from their initial objection.
An article in the Sowetan on 27 June 2018 quotes city spokesperson Stan Maphologela as saying: "due to the number of objections to the new property valuation roll and the complexities of each case‚ it has set itself a target of early 2019 to finalise property valuation objections." In total‚ 50‚595 objections were lodged. “27‚027 objections were received at various stations and 23‚568 objections were received via the online system. All manual objections received were scanned and uploaded‚ together will all the other objections‚ onto the valuation system‚” said Maphologela.
These objections are currently being considered by the Municipal Valuer. “We have started reviewing objections per area‚ starting with townships and sectional title schemes‚ where the highest number of objections were received. All the notices will be sent to the owners and objectors‚ even if the objector is not the owner‚” said Maphologela. The City has apologised for the inconvenience caused by the amount of time needed to review each objection.
• Pensioner Rates Rebates. I have been advised that as long as you have your OBJ# from your valuation objection, pensioners can submit an application to receive your rates rebate from July 2018 as long as your objection value is below R2.5 million. You may still be charged the full rates on your bill, but you should be able to deduct your rates portion depending on your actual rebate. If you submit your forms after 30 June 2018, your rebate will only start in the month after submission. You can download the forms here.
• Pikitup Bin Replacement. Pikitup have been out of stock of 240 litre bins for several months. But new stock is arriving imminently and so it is a good chance to replace your damaged or stolen bin. There is a large backlog of bins that need to be reduced though. Below is how to get a new bin.
But before you start the process of getting a new bin, how about trying to fix the wheels, the lid or even get a new bin body? Waste Worx has bin spares such as wheels, lids, axles, lid hinge-pins, etc. Click here to access their website.
In 2017, the City has adopted a new bin policy that is a little bit confusing. I have broken it down for you to make it easier to understand. There are four categories of bin replacements:
1) If you have no bin at your house - ie it is a new house or you have purchased one and there was no bin. You apply to Pikitup and the bin is free.
2) If you want a second or more bins, you contact Pikitup and pay R452.18 (R393.20 plus VAT) per bin. This amount will be debited to your account. Note that Pikitup are discouraging residents from getting extra bins and you may not be given an extra bin as the priority will be to service those without a bin first. You should be recycling and using the free separation at source schemes currently operating in the Ward.
3) If your bin has been stolen or gone missing. You can get ONE free bin replacement every 8 years starting from 1 July 2017. After that you pay R 452.18 per bin.
4) If your bin is broken or damaged, then you will get a free bin, proving that you return the old bin.
The Process to Obtain a Bin
In each of the above options, you need to call the COJ call centre on 011-3755555 and obtain a reference number. You will need your account number when you do this. If it has been stolen, then you should first visit your nearest police station and report it. You will need to provide the case number when calling the COJ call centre. In theory, Pikitup will then alert the depot that services your suburb and deliver a bin within a week.
In practice your Ward Cllr requires the following information :
- Full name
- Cell
- Address
- Ref #
- Also attach a copy of the receipt if you have paid for a bin.
Arrangements can then made to contact the relevant depot to arrange it to be delivery to the residents home.
|
|
|
