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13 PROPERTIES TO BE AUCTIONED FOR RATE ARREARS

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 MBABANE – A total of 13 properties will go under the hammer within the capital city for defaulting on property rates.


A notice of sale issued by the Mbabane Magistrates Court yesterday disclosed that the properties would be sold by public auction on December 14, 2018 to recover rates valued at E135 102.


The public auction could be conducted by a deputy sheriff yet to be announced at the magistrates car park starting from 10am. The priciest property, located on portion 992 (a portion of portion 505) farm number 188, has a reserve price fixed at E784 000. Meanwhile, the property located on plot 864 at Msunduza - extension four, has the lowest reserve price of E6 211.16.


It should be mentioned that all properties lined up for auction are developed. This effectively means they have structures erected on the plots.
The municipality as a local authority, in line with their strategic plan or Integrated Development Plan (IDP), uses a couple of strategies in order to encourage property owners to pay their rates.


These include providing incentives to property owners who pay their rates religiously, through running ‘pay your rates in full and win campaigns’, where ratepayers get rewarded with prizes.


For instance, during the 2016/17 financial year, prizes such as a TV set, stove and fridge were won by deserving rates payers.
The municipality also convenes stakeholder meetings where they educate town’s residents and property owners on rates payment and other issues relating to their operations.


“It is not council’s intention to auction ratespayer’s property for outstanding rates. However, when all of the above-mentioned strategies have failed together with other means for rates recovery as stated in Rating Act (1995), for instance, issuing reminders for rates due and publishing list of rates defaulters in the print media, then we institute legal proceedings, in order to recover outstanding rates,” said Information and Public Relations Officer Lucky Tsabedze. 


An attorney who preferred anonymity clarified that there was a court procedure governing the sale of properties by public auction, meaning if council has recovered the rates owed as well as other costs related to the recovery of rates, then the balance gets remitted to the previous owner of the property.
“Do note that the auctioning and transfer of property is a process. Therefore, when the process has been completed, the balance will be remitted to the previous owner,” he added.

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