Something rotten in state of valuations

I HAVE written to our mayor and requested that the municipality issues a public explanation of the process used for the latest property valuations.

Unfortunately, I have come up against the usual bureaucracy – responsible person is off sick and passed on to somebody else etc.

I would have thought The Herald would have investigated this issue as there have been letters questioning the whole process and I have spoken to many people who are unhappy about their valuation and who also cannot understand the process.

I have researched the change in valuations to all of the houses in my street in Summerstrand and they range from a 0% increase to a 75% increase!

How is this possible? If the valuation done four years ago was correct and no alterations have been made to the properties, then how can the valuation changes be so drastically different? If property prices for a specific area have risen by, say 5%, over the last four years, surely all property valuations in that area should increase by the same percentage?

All I have asked from the mayor is for openness and honesty, to be transparent in this whole process and inform the ratepayers accordingly.

So much is covered up in South Africa today and incompetency and corruption prevails. I hope that the DA municipality is not wasting our money on a flawed valuation process, which I believe has been carried out by a Durban-based company.

Roy Mutlow, Port Elizabeth

Editor’s reply: We have requested an interview with relevant officials to address public concerns around valuations. We are awaiting confirmation from the metro.