The Department of Development Planning would like to invite all stakeholders to a robust discussion on spatial planning and bylaw review. The virtual meeting (MS Teams) will take place on 24 June 2021 from 09h00 to 13h00.
Click HERE to join the meeting
On the 2nd June 2021 JPOMA hosted a Webinar with the City Of Johannesburg Rates Department. The Rates Department is asking for property owners’ assistance in preparing for the GV2022.
Property Owners have an opportunity to ensure the values of their properties are correct in the next valuation roll. All documents and queries can be directed to: valuationenquiries@joburg.org.za. Submissions can also be dropped off at 1st floor, East Wing, Jorissen Place, 66 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein.
A link to watch a recording of the webinar will be poster HERE soon.
The JPOMA Annual General Meeting was held on 17 June 2021.
The following directors were appointed, with Nic Barnes remaining as Chairman;
Nic Barnes – Re-elected Director and Chairman
Renney Plit – Re-elected Director
Shaun Streaton – Re-elected Director
Mark Taitz – Re-elected Director
Andrew Schaefer – Re-elected Director
Gregory Papadopulos – Re-elected Director
Gustav Holtzhausen – Newly Elected and accepted
Kevin van den Heever – Newly Elected and accepted
Gloria Twaise – Newly Elected and accepted
Katherine Cox – Newly Elected and accepted
Mendel Goldman – Newly Elected, to be accepted
Care de Witt or Grant Harris – Newly Elected, to be accepted
Resignation – Rian Reyneke
Please click HERE for a recording of the meeting.
Following JPOMA’s public condemnation of CoJ tariff increases (see press release HERE) the following coverage has appeared in the media;
eNCA
The Johannesburg Property Owners and Managers Association warns that planned water, sewerage and electricity hikes will be devastating for ratepayers. For more, Gareth Edwards speaks to the association’s general manager, Angela Rivers. Courtesy #DStv403
Watch the interview HERE
BusinessTech
The Johannesburg Property Owners & Managers Association (JPOMA) says that proposed council tariff increases facilitated by the City of Johannesburg highlights a complete and utter disregard of the harsh reality faced by inner-city and greater Johannesburg residents during one of the gravest economic downturns in recent memory.
Read the full article HERE
The proposed council tariff increases facilitated by the City of Johannesburg highlights a complete and utter disregard of the harsh reality faced by inner-city and greater Johannesburg residents during one of the gravest economic downturns in recent memory. This is only set to be worsened by the unjustifiable and exorbitant increases in utility charges – electricity, rates, refuse, water and sewer.
The Johannesburg Property Owners & Managers Association (JPOMA) believes that the needs of vulnerable communities residing within high-density residential properties in the inner city and surrounding areas are being blatantly ignored. “Our organisation represents families living in self-contained and communal affordable housing, with a total monthly income that falls between R4 500 and R15 000, and the proposed increases will severely negatively impact these residents’ lives, as well as acting as significant anti-investment” says JPOMA General Manager, Angela Rivers.
Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy was in sharp decline, resulting in increased unemployment and high levels of poverty. This was particularly evident in the poor and vulnerable communities, which fall outside of the City’s Expanded Social Package. Now, after the ravaging effects of the pandemic, at least another one million permanent jobs have been lost in the country, with South Africa predicted to recover from this economic crisis only by 2024 at the earliest.
In 2021, approximately 24% of tenants’ living expenses are made up of council charges and up to 40% of rental flowing to operating costs. As it stands, the proposed 2021/2022 tariff increases are all significantly above the average inflation rate, currently sitting at 3.88%. Water and sewer charges are going up by an average of 6.7%, waste charges by 4.3% and electricity charges by up to four times more than inflation. Shockingly, these numbers don’t even tell the full story of these astronomical increases throughout the years.
From 2008 to 2021, water charges have increased by 288%, sewer charges by 267% and electricity charges by 394%. This means that total council charges over 13 years have increased by a whopping 329%, while the average household income has only increased by 119% in that period. While the tariffs have drastically increased, service delivery and basic maintenance have deteriorated across the city, due to inadequacies, inefficient processes and mismanagement of funds accrued by the municipality.
These latest proposed increases will devastate the quality of life for those already living in disadvantaged conditions in terms of financial instability, the elderly, the disabled and people affected by comorbidities. This is evidenced in poor high-density communities, specifically in the Johannesburg CBD and immediate surrounds.
The tariff increases compounded with the already fragile economic state of the country adds insult to injury to those already struggling within their means. Not only do residents and tenants suffer but investors and landlords are also feeling the burden of not being able to find viable tenants to take up leases. This goes on to affect investment in the city, ultimately being a death knell in any possible economic recovery.
“JPOMA is committed to tangible progress of Johannesburg as both an investment opportunity and a home for all its residents. We believe progress comes with great responsibility; this responsibility being our duty to ensure the communities within the inner city and its surroundings are provided with safe, secure, clean and affordable accommodation. We use our voice and platform to support the vulnerable communities who are most often overlooked and taken advantage of due to financial burdens,” concludes Rivers.
JPOMA calls on the City of Johannesburg to revisit its intended tariff increase and to consider the devastating and irreparable effect that it will have on the city and its community if it proceeds with its tabled proposal.
For more information or to join the fight, contact Angela Rivers angela@jpoma.co.za