By Tabisa Mntengwana
29 October 2008

BUFFALO City is warning residents to be on the look out for people falsely claiming to be General Valuations data collectors.

The municipality is currently carrying out a general valuation of all properties in Buffalo City – as one of the requirements of the Municipal Property Act of 2004. At present there are 69 data collectors working in the King William’s Town and East London area.

There are 12 data collectors deployed in Mdantsane and visits are carried out between 8am and 8pm from Monday to Friday and 1pm on a Saturday.

Buffalo City’s General Valuation is a process to value all 160 000 municipal properties since the national law regulates the power of a municipality to value and rate immovable property within its boundaries. The process started in July and will be completed by July 2009.

Data collectors are identifiable by coloured bibs with the words “Buffalo City” and “General Valuation” and their logos clearly visible. They are also obliged to carry identity cards with their names, photographs, identity numbers and project personnel numbers signed by Buffalo City’s municipal manager.

According to a press release issued by the municipality, the General Valuation section have received reports of people who are abusing the system by posing as their data collectors and gain access to properties for criminal acts.

“In an effort to curb this problem the municipality is working closely with all police stations in each area in ensuring that as soon as a person become suspicious of a data collector they can contact us for a quick reaction,” states the press release.

For more information residents can contact the General Valuation information office on 043 722 0240 or visit www.valueMe.co.za

BUFFALO CITY
METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY
A City growing
with you