The City of Cape Town’s 2009 General Valuation Roll (GV2009) was certified by the City Manager on 29 January 2010.

A general valuation is conducted at least once every four years to ensure that the rates charged on residential and non-residential (agricultural and public service infrastructure) properties are fair and up-to-date. It is necessary to redo valuations because property values change within neighbourhoods and in relation to other neighbourhoods over time. This revaluation will establish a fair and equitable rates base for the next three to four years. The public inspection and objection period for the GV2009 ended on 30 April 2010.

The General Valuation includes all the properties that fall within the boundaries of the City of Cape Town – about 780 000 in all. This includes residential, commercial, agricultural and public infrastructure properties.

The valuation roll must be updated at least once a year, in terms of section 78 of the Local Government Municipal Property Rates Act, no 6 of 2004 via a supplementary valuation roll. A supplementary valuation roll will include properties that have changed since the general valuation. The valuation roll must be updated with the new values resulting from the changes.

As in the two previous general valuations, the City has adopted a mass valuation methodology that is in line with accepted mass valuation practices. This method is a systematic process of valuing many properties at a given date using statistical procedures based on property sales and market conditions around the date of valuation (1 July 2009). A physical inspection of each individual property is not compulsory.

‘Our aim is to provide a valuation roll that is acceptable to all residents and property owners, because the values are fair and equitable and reflect market conditions as at the date of valuation (1 July 2009),’ says Christopher Gavor, Director of the City’s Valuation Office.

In addition, statistical control measures are used to make sure the results conform to international standards for mass appraisals, and valuers analyse whether the values generated reflect market conditions as at the date of valuation.

An internationally recognised independent body audited the City’s compliance with international best practice and the law.

Rates constitute about 24% of the City’s income and pay for services including building and maintaining roads, parks, running clinics and libraries and fire, rescue and traffic services.

‘I truly believe we have done all we can, given the huge challenges, to ensure a fair, uniform and transparent general valuation,’ Gavor said. ‘We have put in the hard slog, we have tested our systems, and we are confident that the end result will be received with due regard for the fairness of the process.’

The First Supplementary Valuation Roll to the 2009 General Valuation Roll (SV01) was certified on 30 June 2010. Approximately 10 000 properties were valued in SV01. The prescribed objection period for the SV01 ended on 31 August 2010.

The Second Supplementary Valuation Roll to the 2009 General Valuation Roll (SV02) was certified on 28 February 2011. The prescribed objection period for the SV02 ended on 30 April 2011.

The Third Supplementary Valuation Roll to the 2009 General Valuation Roll (SV03) was certified on 30 June 2011. The prescribed objection period started on 21 July 2011 and ends on 30 August 2011.