The Fires which raged across Knysna in June 2017 left many properties destroyed. Picture: Knysna Municipality
The Knysna Municipality Council has decided on Tuesday, 17 July 2018 to waive availability charges for 2017/18 on properties that were destroyed by fires.
According to the Municipality, the Council resolved in August 2017 to waive the rates payable on destroyed properties to provide relief to fire victims.
In terms of the municipal rates policy these properties were then reclassified as vacant and consequently charged availability charges in terms of the approved council tariffs
The Municipality further stated that availability charges are generally higher than residential and are aimed at encouraging owners to build as soon as possible.
However, it was never the intention of Council to penalize fire victims. Having listened to various submissions from individuals and organisations, Council instructed the administration to prepare a review on these charges
After reviewing the charges, the council resolved to waive them and the impact of the resolution are the following:
- Availability charges raised will be waived for the 2017/18 financial year on those properties that were totally destroyed by the fire
- These properties will be charged as if they were residential properties (as they were before the fire)
- A credit will be passed for the difference and
- Where the property has been sold, the credit will be payable to the previous owner of the property.
The Fires which raged across Knysna in June 2017, was the most catastrophic in the Country’s history and left many properties destroyed.