Parliamentary Editor

CAPE TOWN The passage of the painstakingly crafted Property Rates Bill into law could be delayed following indications from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) that it might amend the bill, which was approved by the National Assembly last week.

The bill is the product of more than 300 hours of delicate negotiations with a wide variety of stakeholders. It provides for a uniform system of municipal property rates across the country.

The National Assembly committee has apparently succeeded in preparing a bill that harmonises the diverse interests of groups such as traditional leaders , organised agriculture and holders of public service infrastructure.

This is the third time in recent months that an NCOP committee has balked at simply pushing through a bill approved by the National Assembly.

In October last year the NCOP's select committee on security objected to the inclusion of an implementation date in the Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill before it had even considered the bill, saying this implied it was expected to rubber-stamp the work of the National Assembly's justice committee.

It also emerged last week that the NCOP had made changes to the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorism and Related Activities Bill after receiving last-minute submissions from the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

The NCOP's changes to the bill have since been rejected by the National Assembly Committee, and this has stalled passage of the bill, which must now be considered by Parliament after the approaching elections.

Yesterday the NCOP's local government and administration committee found problems with a number of clauses in the Property Rates Bill. At least three were "flagged" when explanations from officials in the provincial and local government department failed to placate members.

The committee's first objection was to the hours that rates inspectors were allowed to visit properties between 7am and 7pm. The committee insisted these be changed to normal office hours. The committee's chairman, Mathupa Mokoena, said he would propose an amendment to this effect.

Mzilikazi Manyike, director of municipal finance policy in the department, said that the hours were decided following submissions made during public hearings that many properties were unoccupied during office hours.

Committee members also objected to a clause stating that no councillor can be appointed a municipal valuer in his or her council . They rejected the explanation from Manyike and his colleagues that this rule would protect the property valuation process from political interference.

Mokoena and others also objected to the inclusion of a provision allowing valuers to use aerial photography to assist them in mass valuation exercises.

It will become clear today, when the select committee finalises its deliberations on the bill, whether members' complaints will actually translate into amendments.

Any changes will mean the bill will have to go back to the National Assembly before it can be signed into law by the president.

Mar 03 2004 07:35:52:000AM Wyndham Hartley Business Day 1st Edition