Kleinfontein not being charged fair rates, says DA

JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused the African National Congress (ANC)-led coalition in Tshwane of not charging fair property rates for incorrectly zoned settlements like the white-Afrikaner only settlement of Kleinfontein.

The DA said there are 19 other illegal developments in Tshwane, including Leeufontein and Moshate Gardens, that are not being charged rates and taxes.

At a recent council meeting, the DA submitted a motion that would have allowed the city to attach a value to the over 19,000 properties built on incorrectly-zoned settlements.

However, the motion did not serve.

Earlier this month, Eyewitness News reported that the Tshwane municipality bumped Kleinfontein’s value from R21 million to R291 million.

This means the settlement’s rates and tax bill will go from R50,000 a month to R2 million a month.

DA Tshwane spokesperson on finance Jacqui Uys, said the city is charging punitive rates to illegally zoned settlements like Kleinfontein. 

“The city of Tshwane has 19 illegally established developments like Kleinfontein, Leeufontein, and Moshate Gardens, where approximately 19,500 individual erven (plots of land) are not charged rates and taxes.”

Objections to the Tshwane general valuation roll close on 2 May.

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