Launch of Jozi Trails Along Spruit | Valuations Update | Zoo Turns 114 Years Old

Launch of Jozi Trails on Wed 14 Mar @ Delta Park Environment Centre 

I have been part of a group, now called Jozi Trails, for several years. We have been meeting regularly to put into place a pilot project along the Braamfontein Spruit that will regularise and improve the current series of walking and cycling paths as well as improve the mountain biking routes in Delta Park (Emmarentia has now recently been added).

The initial trail management plan will be piloted in Delta Park and at Emmarentia, two of Johannesburg’s busiest public open spaces. The management plan aims to reduce risk and increasing safety for all trail users, trail improvements, signage and enhanced security systems.

It has taken a long time as we needed to get the blessing of City Parks as well as start the necessary environmental permissions. But with City Parks adopting it as legacy project last year, it is time to introduce the project to the wider community.

It will take place on Wed 14 March at 6pm at the Delta Environment Centre (take Road Number 3 from Rustenburg Rd in Victory Park and drive straight into Delta Park, turn left at the T-junction and follow the road until you reach the car park at the Centre).

The event will include a presentation of the actual project and news on progress made to date. This will be an information sharing session – all residents associations, interest groups and organisations that have an interest in outdoor lifestyles are invited, especially those living close to the Spruit.

To RSVP and for more information, please contact info@jozitrails.co.za. And see you there.

Northern Suburbs Tennis Club Open Day on Sat 7 Apr from 11am-3pm

Tucked in next to Fearnhead Park in Blandford Rd, Parkwood is the Northern Suburbs Tennis Club. They have teamed up with the Saxonwold and Parkwood Res Assn to have an open day. You can play tennis, meet the coaches and the SA Blood Supply Services will be there so you can donate blood. You will also be able to chat to the Res Assn on various issues. And the park has also been renovated and spruced up by the residents – it has a witches hat, unusual roundabouts and one of the biggest slides in Joburg. More info info@sapra.org.za

End of Green Ronnie Bags in Ward 117 

Mpact who run the Green Ronnie Bag kerbside paper collection project have announced the termination of their services in suburbs currently being served by the Pikitup/Dikala Separation at Source Scheme on 28 Feb 2018. Suburbs include Parkhurst, Parktown North, Rosebank, Parkwood, Saxonwold, Craighall, Craighall {ark, Dunkeld, Dunkeld West, Forest Town, Parktown and Illovo. I noticed that they still collected in Parkhurst last week, but that Craighall Park still had lots of bags left out.

Joburg Zoo Turns 114 Years Old in March 

Residents and visitors are invited to join the Joburg Zoo as it celebrates its 114 year birthday in March 2018. The birthday celebrations will be marked by a variety of exciting daily activities in the zoo throughout the month.

All visitors celebrating their birthday in March will enjoy free access to the zoo. A day at the Zoo includes among others an exciting daily programme of viewing animals during their enrichment interactions with the curators and during feeding times.

There will be an action-packed EarthHour is planned for 24 March where visitors can wear their glow in the dark costumes and join in the fun to increase awareness of the importance of conservation, to nurture a sustainable planet. Starts from 5’30pm. Cost is R200pp (includes Zoo entrance). EarthHour at the Zoo will include a nocturnal experience under the stars. Bookings: 011-646-2000.

Visitors are welcome to attend the Animal Feeding sessions every weekend: 10am Chimpanzees; 11’15am Ground Hornbills; 12 noon Wild Dogs and Cheetahs; 1pm Crocodiles; 2pm Gorillas. Free to visitors to the Zoo.

There will be Heritage Tours every weekend from 3-4pm (R90pp, booking essential, includes Zoo entrance).  Bookings: 011-646-2000

Normal entrance to the zoo is R80 for adults and R50 for children.

The zoo now boasts “The Stages” restaurant – a one stop party shop that caters for all ages in the zoo.

Invitation to Comment on Jan Smuts Ave Upgrade 

The Johannesburg Roads Agency intends to upgrade Jan Smuts Avenue to a dual carriageway from Bolton Road to Erlswold Way, Parkwood/Saxonwold, and from 8th Avenue to Kent Road in Dunkeld/Parktown North.

The proposed road to be widened already exists and is located within a built environment (residential). However, the visual character and sense of place may be compromised as the road widening may impact on the surrounding vegetation which characterises the study area and forms part of the visual character of the area. Visual impact and sense of place for the project will thus be of a high significance.

In compliance with Section 38 (8) of the National Heritage Resource Act (NHRA), a Notification of Intent to Develop (NID) was submitted to SAHRA; who has recommended that public participation be undertaken for the project as it will ensure that principles of environmental management as set out in Section 2 of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 which requires that environmental management must place people`s needs at the forefront of development and that development must be socially, environmentally and economically viable.

The public participation process is being conducted to ensure that Interested and Affected Parties (I&AP’s) have an opportunity to comment by providing issues of concern and/ or suggestions for enhanced benefits and/ or alternatives.

In light of the above interested and/or affected parties who wish to participate by contributing comments, or who would like to obtain more information, should please contact Andrisha Govender on 0861 444 499 or  andrisha@envirolution.co.za by 3 April 2018.

A public meeting is being planned for early April 2018.

Rates Valuations Help Sessions 

I have arranged 3 sessions during the next 2 weeks where I will be available to help advise and chat about the Objections process for the 2018 Property Valuation Roll. I will also be at the Parkhurst Village info table on Sat 17 March. You are all welcome to attend.

• 7-10am on Thurs 15 March at Craft Restaurant at cnr 4th Ave & 13th St, Parkhurst.
• 9-12noon on Sat 17 March at Parkhurst Residents Assoc Info Table on cnr 4th Ave & 11th St, Parkhurst.
• 7-10am on Thurs 22 March at Craft Restaurant at cnr 4th Ave & 13th St, Parkhurst.
• 7-11am on Mon 27 March at La Boqueria Restaurant in 3rd Ave Parktown North.

Property Valuations Part 3

I have written two emails on the Property Valuations – you can read them here

• 1st Newsletter
• 2nd Newsletter

For those of you who want to find out more about the valuation process, watch this video with the Head of Valuations in Joburg.

Moneyweb also used the info in my 1st Email to a produce an article titled  How to Object to Shock Joburg Property Valuations.

I submitted my objection online last week. Here are my experiences from using the online form as well as from the seminar at Schindlers Attorneys I attended last week.

• The 8000 properties that are being re-valued will probably be published online in a Supplementary Valuation where you should be able to see if your property is one of them. You will then have 30 days to object to that valuation should you so wish.
• You can access the property search section and the registration/objection section here evaluations.co.za.
• The due date for objections is 3pm on April 2018. If you miss this, you may well end up being stuck with your valuation for 4-5 years. It is worth the effort.
• You can upload multiple documents and have 10mb of space to do this.
• Only files with these extensions: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .png, .jpg, .gif, .bmp, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx, .txtare allowed to be uploaded.
• Apart from value, you can object to things like the category (ie if your flat is categorised as business and commercial); the address if its wrong, the size of the property, the owner’s name.
• It is best to get a valuation from someone who has visited the property as it will carry more weight than an online mass valuation comparison.
• An estate agent is fine and they are usually free. But they are very busy doing valuations – so don’t leave it to the last minute.
• You can get a sworn appraisal from a registered property valuer – it will cost around R4000 for a house. It does carry more weight than an estate agent valuation. I would suggest if you have a huge over-valuation or a large and complex property, than you use one.
• Take screen shots as you complete each section and save them along with your supporting documents safely on the cloud. You may need them a few years later  when/if you appeal.
• You can download a unique bar-coded objection form when you search for a property. Once completed you can then upload it online with the supporting documents or hand it in at a Regional Office.
• If you want to hand in an objection or speak to a valuation official, then you can find a list walk in revenue centres here.
• It won’t be quick to do an objection. Block out an hour of your time to do it. I am not sure you can amend it, so try to do it correctly the 1st time.
• To register an objection you will need info like the erf/stand #, rates acct #, size of property, info on servitudes, sales of other properties in the area (erf #, date of sale, selling price), size of main dwelling/outbuildings etc, as well as lots of questions on the physical characteristics of your property.
• Have all ur docs (like estate agent reports, Lightstone/PropIQ reports, pics of defects) ready and scanned so you can easily upload when you object.
• Write your motivation ahead of time using MS Word or a similar programme so you can easily upload it. You can include things like erf size/shape, defects, anything that you think reduces your value.
• Once successfully submitted your objection, you will see your Objection # on the confirmation screen and an objection confirmation letter which can be downloaded and printed.
• If you do not have the time to do an objection, there are several people and organisations that will do it for you for a fee. Please contact me for their details if you want to go this route.

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