Press Statement by Michele Rautenbach, DA Councillor in Victor Khanye Local Municipality
The DA welcomes the initiative from the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) to intervene in the property valuation and recategorization crisis that is unfolding in Victor Khanye Local Municipality.
In March 2024, the municipality undertook a new property valuation and recategorization process which resulted in the recategorization of former agricultural land to residential stands in February 2025.
Although the process was supposed to take effect on 1 July 2025, this did not happen. Residents in Sundra, Springs, Rietkol, Droggerfontein and Leeupoort were billed in February 2026 for backdated rates and taxes, with some charges reaching R18 000.
Because of the above, residents in the municipality are being forced to fork out up to 336% more in these harsh economic conditions. In certain cases, this translated to an increase in the rates and taxes account from R580 to R2500.
The DA in Victor Khanye finds this completely unacceptable because the municipality has failed to comply with the Municipal Property Rates Act No 6 of 2004 by ensuring that residents are informed that the valuation roll is open for inspection and they failed to invite objections.
Noting the severity of the above, the DA posed questions to Victor Khanye Local Municipality on the 14th of March 2026.In addition, our Political Head, Annerie Weber, tabled a member’s statement in the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, calling on the MEC for CoGHSTA, Speedy Mashilo, to ensure that the process is restarted and conducted fairly and includes the people it is meant to affect.
Public participation must be sought through local newspapers, and not prominent Gauteng newspapers. Following this motion, we understand that district CoGHSTA met with municipal officials and the company responsible for the property valuation, and that the outcomes will be presented at an upcoming special council meeting.
The DA will not relent; we will make sure that the officials of Victor Khanye Local Municipality uphold the law and that residents are aware of decisions that affect them.