Valuation roll favours officials

LESEDI COUNCILLORS' PROPERTIES UNDERVALUED WHILE RATEPAYERS SHOULDER COSTS

- Sipho Mabena

The legal wrangle over property valuations in Gauteng's Lesedi local municipality has escalated into a wider governance storm, with indications that senior officials may be among the main beneficiaries of an unlawful municipal valuation roll.

At the heart of the saga is mayor Mluleki Nkosi's properties, along with those linked to other senior municipal figures that appear to be significantly undervalued when compared to market estimates.

The Citizen has previously revealed that Nkosi's residence in the upmarket Berg En Dal in Heidelberg extension 12, believed to be worth at least R3.5 million, was valued at just R800 000 on the roll.

Property prices in the neighbourhood range between R400 000 and R3.2 million.

The mayor's property was also allegedly excluded from a supplementary valuation roll after he took occupation.

Further scrutiny points to a broader pattern.

A 320m² property, in Ratanda extension 23, also registered to Nkosi, is valued at R400 000, while another 270m² property in the neighbourhood, also registered to Nkosi, is listed at R425 000.

Aggrieved ratepayers have argued that these valuations fell well below realistic market values.