By Heinz de Boer
There will be no phasing in of new property rates for local residents, who should brace themselves for what could be massive increases in their bills each month.
Fears that rates could increase by up to 200 percent on some properties were again raised at Monday's executive committee meeting, where the ANC objected to proposals for a phasing in of market-related valuations.
Instead, city manager Michael Sutcliffe said the council would implement the new rates and associated costs in a "big bang" manner.
'This rates act is about equality' This means that once council has finalised its valuation role and "rand ratage" percentage by July, residents would be expected to start paying what could be double, or even triple what they are paying now.
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There will, however, be a period for objections to the new, market-related rates roll, but residents will be expected to pay until their appeals are finalised.
While relatively newly-rated properties in predominately affluent suburbs could see moderate increases, opposition parties claim the poorest of the poor could now be rated out of their homes.
People living in former council flats that were purchased for R20 000, but are now valued at over R200 000, could faced huge financial hurdles, said DA caucus leader John Steenhuisen.
Suburbs that could be badly affected include Chatsworth, Phoenix, Umlazi and KwaMashu.
"We are not calling for a general phasing in, but for the policy to make contingency plans for anomalies, where people may be expected to pay three or four times more than they are now," Steenhuisen said.
"This would provide relief to these people that may otherwise not be able to afford the new rates."
He predicted that Durban would follow Johannesburg's example and set the rate rand-age at 25 cents to the rand.
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