RUSTENBURG HERALD
By the time of his retirement, he was commander of the exhibits office at the Rustenburg Police Station. In an interview with the Rustenburg Herald, Captain Nortje said that he joined the police around 9 June 1976 when he was only 16-years-old and was still fresh from high school. He shares his journey
with the police with a smile when he looks back to all the ups and downs that he went through, throughout his career. Amongst other places he worked, he was stationed in Thabazimbi and Northam briefly, and he had the opportunity to travel and work in joint border operations with various countries across SADEC.
After 1994 he came to Rustenburg and he has been stationed at the Rustenburg Police Station until his retirement on Monday (30 November 2020). One of the aspects that were highlighted during his career is that he has always been a dedicated officer, dedicated to serving the community and following instructions from his commanders. Major General Arthur Peter Adams, Bojanala District 2 Commissioner came
4 DESEMBER 2020 BLADSY 3
Rustenburg bids farewell to Captain Frik Nortje
Major General Arthur Peter Adams, Bojanala District 2 Commissioner came personally to Rustenburg Police Station to give Captain Nortje his final salute.
They are pictured here at the Rustenburg Police Station.
RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - The police in Rustenburg recently held a farewell
for Captain Frik Nortje (60) who has been with the South African Police Service for 42 years. personally to Rustenburg Police Station to give Captain Nortje his final salute.
He applauded and thanked him for the long committed service of 42-years in the SAPS.
Amongst those who attended was the Acting Station Commander of Rustenburg Brigadier Joel Pheto.
He likened the captain to a good wine which has been maturing for 42 years.
The captain said he does not regret giving his life to public service and he would encourage anyone who would like to be part of the SAPS to do so without hesitation.
“Looking back at my career, there is absolutely nothing that I regret, I would join the SAPS all over again if I could turn back the hands of time, for now I am just looking forward to spending my free time with family,” said Captain Nortje.
He has two grown sons and four grandchildren.
New “draft” Valuation Roll another shock
Well, whatever your opinion, that fact is that the Rustenburg Municipality has announced that its latest “draft”
Valuation Roll for properties in and around Rustenburg has been completed and is ready for inspection by property owners.
It would be unfair not to say (again), that the new draft Valuation Roll has sparked community members’ outrage from the outset as it seems (or is obvious) that the new Valuation Roll, save for some minor changes, appears to be exactly the same than the one tabled earlier this year and which has caused a public outcry as the new roll is marked by an increase in property valuations between 100 and 400% some experts say. “From spot checks made, it seems as if almost no changes were made on Values of Properties that increased by more than 100%, which was one of the main reasons why the “New” Valuation Roll”
was referred back and extended by a year to only be effective as from 1 July 2021”, Cllr Gert du Plessis - DA Councillor of Ward 14 told Rustenburg Herald. “It is shocking to even think of it that the intention and reality is that Rustenburg Local Municipality, as from 1 July 2021 will increase Residential Property Rates by more than 100% for more that 50% of residential premises in Rustenburg, while it is common knowledge and repeatedly published by the national media, that property values have decreased
throughout the Country and especially Waldie Volschenk
who owns property in Rustenburg will tell you that an average decline of 20% in property resale value is old hat by now.
In the case of the Rustenburg area, in particular, even more so, as the city yet has to stagger upright after months and years of unrest, never-ending strikes, the Marikana incident, declining markets and job opportunities and above all, Covid-19 which has cost the country dearly and practically, a deficit of a good eight to ten years in economic growth since roughly 2012. Yet, not only does the Rustenburg Municipality’s valuer see little reason to at least keep Rustenburg’s property valuations in check, but surprisingly to allow unreasonably steep municipal valuations far beyond what is in fact being reflected in the South African, let alone Rustenburg property sector.
An excellent example of this is the story of a local homeowner who told us: “ I bought my property at a price of R1 500 000 some three years ago. The Municipal Valuation has since been increased to R4 500 000 which makes absolutely no sense.
I have been struggling to successfully sell the property at anyway near this latest valuation. In fact, even at my best price of R2 000 000 offers were very rare. The rates at this property will in terms of the new valuation however, increase from R950.00 to R2 850.00 per month. I’m still holding out but the future is unsure”, the disappointed owner said.
“I will be extremely disappointed by die Municipality if they indeed go ahead to adopt the obviously unreasonable draft Valuation Roll which appears to be the exactly the same as that of earlier this year, a well-known property valuer and Principal of a respected local estate agency, Chris Breytenbach of Era Rustenburg, told Waldie Volschenk. I haven’t seen the latest draft roll but I understand that it contains numerous properties whose valuations have been inflated exorbitantly.
There is no denying that at least 80% of properties in Rustenburg and elsewhere in the country struggles to maintain earlier retail values. The Rustenburg public will however, only be able to lodge their objections once the roll has been published at the end of January 2021.
Property owners will have to bear in mind that they will have only three months at their disposal to lodge their objections with the Municipality. They might at the same time be well-advised to consult with property valuers before the deadline expires”, Breytenbach said. (Rustenburg Herald requested the comment of the Rustenburg Municipality on the issue. To date we have however, received no response).
RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - Some will say we’re back to Square One, others that it is blatant underhandedness driven by greed and others still, that the Rustenburg Municipality’s new “draft” Valuation Roll is nothing but a fair reflection of the city’s vibrant property market.
in Rustenburg during the past five years”, Du Plessis continued.
Thus far (the announcement was published in last week’s edition of Rustenburg Herald - p 26 of our Classifieds Section, 27 November) property owners were stunned with disbelief and frustrated by the idea that in spite of all the initial concerns, talks and extensions, virtually no progress has been made in putting the community’s fears and concerns to bed with regard to ridiculously high increases in municipal properties while it is common knowledge that the entire South African property market has taken quite a beating during the past three to five years. Everyone
Captain Nortje with his colleagues at the Rustenburg Police Station: Pictured here from left to right, seated: Colonel Motshwanedi, Brigadier Pheto, Captain Nortje; Captain Nel and standing, from left to right: Colonel Shuping, Colonel Ditaba, W/O De Bruyn, Colonel Buhlungu, Colonel Mpengezi, Captain Von Benecke, Captain Molotsi and Colonel Nthekang.
