The Democratic Alliance (DA) demands that the Lesedi Municipality begin the valuation roll process again, give residents a fair chance to object, and create a new legal valuation roll lawfully.
This comes as the ratepayers of Lesedi are being asked to fund a budget built on a lie: a property valuation roll that the Johannesburg High Court has already declared unlawful. The ANC-controlled municipality, without good judgement, has chosen to ignore that ruling entirely.
Earlier this year, the Johannesburg High Court ruled that Lesedi Municipality’s Property Valuation Roll, which determines the rates and taxes residents must pay on property, was unlawful because the municipality did not follow the proper public notice process.
The municipality has acted against the rule of law, arrogantly believing itself to be above it, and has planned its budget around the unlawful valuation roll.
This displays a complete disregard for, and lack of respect for, the court and the justice system that governs the country and protects its citizens.
The residents of Lesedi have been forced to spend their own money on legal fees to compel their own municipality to obey the law, while the municipality spends public funds defending its unlawful conduct.
Further, residents should not have to pay backdated charges because of the mistakes made through the incompetence of the municipality.
The ANC and EFF have shown contempt towards the rule of law, as they presumptuously approved this budget to protect the municipality’s financial position over the legal rights of the residents they were elected to serve.
The DA calls on the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to urgently investigate whether Lesedi is in breach of the court order and to consider intervention under the Constitution.
We will use every mechanism available to us to hold this municipality to account.
The DA will continue to fight for the rule of law to be upheld so that there is not an abuse of power by those who seek to protect their own political interests over the legal rights of citizens.