Property Valuation Act, Act No. 17 of 2014
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Government Gazette
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Vol. 589 Cape Town 1 July 2014 No. 37792
THE PRESIDENCY No. 527 1 July 2014
It is hereby notified that the President has assented to the following Act, which is hereby published for general information:–
Act No. 17 of 2014: Property Valuation, 2014

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ACT To provide for the establishment, functions and powers of the Office of the Valuer-General; to provide for the appointment and responsibilities of the Valuer-General; to provide for the regulation of the valuation of property that has been identified for land reform as well as property that has been identified for acquisition or disposal by a department; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
PREAMBLE
WHEREAS the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, provides for the protection of property, the expropriation of property for a public purpose or in the public interest and subject to just and equitable compensation and the State taking reasonable legislative and other measures within its available resources to foster conditions which will facilitate land reform and restitution of land of which a person or community was dispossessed as a result of past discriminatory laws or practices;
WHEREAS the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, further stipulates that no provision of section 25 may impede the State from taking legislative and other measures to achieve land, water and related reform in order to redress the results of past discrimination,
BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa,as follows:— ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
CHAPTER 1
INTERPRETATION, OBJECTS AND APPLICATION
1. Definitions 2. Objects of Act 3. Application of Act
CHAPTER 2
OFFICE OF VALUER-GENERAL
Part 1
Establishment, status, functions and powers
4. Establishment of Office of Valuer-General 5. Status 6. Functions 7. Powers
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(English text signed by the President) (Assented to 29 June 2014)
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Part 2
Appointment of Valuer-General and Chief Operating Officer
8. Appointment of Valuer-General 9. Responsibilities of Valuer-General 10. Appointment and responsibilities of Chief Operating Officer
CHAPTER 3
VALUATION OF PROPERTY
11. Authorised valuers and assistants 12. Valuations by Office of Valuer-General 13. General valuation powers 14. Conduct of authorised valuers 15. Valuation reports 16. Valuation fees
CHAPTER 4
FINANCIALAND OTHER MATTERS
Part 1
Financial administration
17. Funds of Office of Valuer-General 18. Audit
Part 2
Miscellaneous
19. Delegation of powers and duties 20. Regulations 21. Short title and commencement
CHAPTER 1
INTERPRETATION, OBJECTS AND APPLICATION
Definitions
1. In this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise— ‘‘authorised valuer’’ means a registered valuer who has been authorised by the Valuer-General in terms of section 11, to conduct valuations; ‘‘Chief Operating Officer’’ means the individual appointed as Chief Operating Officer in terms of section 10; ‘‘Constitution’’ means the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996; ‘‘department’’ has the meaning assigned to it in section 1 of the Public Finance Management Act; ‘‘land reform’’means land redistribution, land restitution, land development and tenure reform; ‘‘market value’’ means the estimated amount for which the property should exchange on the valuation date between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm’s length transaction after proper marketing and where the parties had each acted knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion: Provided that in determining market value for purposes of section 12(1)(a), prices paid by the State for any acquisition of property must be excluded: Provided further that in the event that no other credible data is available, prices paid by the State for any acquisition of property may be considered;
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‘‘Minister’’ means the Minister responsible for rural development and land reform; ‘‘Office of the Valuer-General’’ means the Office of the Valuer-General established by section 4; ‘‘prescribe’’means prescribed by regulations in terms of section 20; ‘‘property’’means— (a) immovable property registered in the name of a person; (b) any movable property which is contemplated to be acquired together with the
relevant immovable property; and (c) a right in or to such property, including an unregistered right recognised and
protected by law; ‘‘Property Valuers Profession Act’’means the Property Valuers Profession Act, 2000 (Act No. 47 of 2000); ‘‘Public Finance Management Act’’means the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999); ‘‘Public Service Act’’means the Public Service Act, 1994 (Proclamation No. 103 of 1994); ‘‘registered valuer’’ means a person registered in terms of the Property Valuers Profession Act as a Professional Valuer, Professional Associated Valuer or a specified category as a Public Sector Professional Associated Valuer; ‘‘valuation’’means the— (a) process of estimating the value for a specific purpose of a particular interest in
property at a particular moment in time; and (b) outcome or result of the process referred to in this paragraph (a); ‘‘value’’, for purposes of section 12(1)(a), means the value of property identified for purposes of land reform, which must reflect an equitable balance between the public interest and the interests of those affected by the acquisition, having regard to all the relevant circumstances, including the— (a) current use of the property; (b) history of the acquisition and the use of the property; (c) market value of the property; (d) extent of direct state investment and subsidy in the acquisition and beneficial
capital improvement of the property; and (e) purpose of the acquisition; and ‘‘Valuer-General’’ means the individual appointed as Valuer-General in terms of section 8 or acting as such.
Objects of Act
2. The objects of this Act are to— (a) give effect to the provisions of the Constitution which provide for land reform
and to facilitate land reform through the regulation of the valuation of property;
(b) provide for the establishment of the Office of the Valuer-General; (c) provide for the valuation of property that has been identified for purposes of
land reform; (d) provide a voluntary valuation service to departments; and (e) provide for the setting of criteria and procedures and the monitoring of
valuations.
Application of Act
3. The provisions of this Act apply to the valuation of property contemplated in section 12.
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CHAPTER 2
OFFICE OF VALUER-GENERAL
Part 1
Establishment, status, functions and powers
Establishment of Office of Valuer-General
4. The Office of the Valuer-General is hereby established.
Status
5. The Office of the Valuer-General— (a) is a juristic person with full legal capacity and is subject to this Act; (b) must be impartial and must exercise the powers and perform the functions of
office without fear, favour or prejudice; and (c) is accountable to the Minister.
Functions
6. The Office of the Valuer-General— (a) must value any property contemplated in section 12(1)(a); (b) may, at the request of a department, value property contemplated in section
12(1)(b); (c) must make recommendations to the Minister regarding the—
(i) criteria for the determination of the value of property contemplated in section 12(1)(a);
(ii) procedures and guidelines, excluding the method of valuation for the valuation of properties, the manner in which a valuation must be performed and any other relevant factors; and
(iii) system to monitor compliance with the criteria and procedures contem- plated in subparagraphs (i) and (ii); and
(d) must determine the matters that must be reflected in a valuation report contemplated in section 15.
Powers
7. The Office of the Valuer-General may do all that is necessary to perform its functions, including—
(a) the determination of its own staff establishment, with the concurrence of the Minister;
(b) to obtain, by agreement, the services of any suitably qualified person, for the performance of any specific act or function; and
(c) to engage in any activity, with other organisations to promote the proper, efficient and effective valuation of property that has been identified for land reform.
Part 2
Appointment of Valuer-General and Chief Operating Officer
Appointment of Valuer-General
8. (1) The Minister must, subject to the provision of the Public Service Act, appoint the Valuer-General. (2) The person to be appointed as Valuer-General in terms of subsection (1), must be
a South African citizen, a registered valuer and have sufficient experience and knowledge relating to—
(a) public administration; (b) public finance; or (c) legal and constitutional matters affecting public administration.
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(3) In the event of a vacancy in the position of the Valuer-General, the Minister must, subject to subsection (2), appoint an acting Valuer-General.
Responsibilities of Valuer-General
9. (1) The Valuer-General— (a) is responsible for the performance by the Office of the Valuer-General of its
functions; (b) takes all decisions in the exercise by the Office of the Valuer-General of its
powers; (c) performs any function and exercises any power assigned to the Office of the
Valuer-General in terms of this Act or any other law; and (d) is the chief executive officer and accounting authority for the Office of the
Valuer-General. (2) As chief executive officer and accounting authority, the Valuer-General is
responsible for the— (a) formation and development of an efficient administration; (b) appointment of staff, subject to the Public Service Act, in posts on the staff
establishment referred to in section 7(a); (c) income and expenditure of the Office of the Valuer-General; (d) assets and the discharge of all liabilities of the Office of the Valuer-General;
and (e) proper and diligent implementation of the Public Finance Management Act.
(3) Persons seconded to the Office of the Valuer-General or appointed on contract to perform specific tasks, must carry out their functions under the control and directions of the Valuer-General in accordance with the secondment or contract.
Appointment and responsibilities of Chief Operating Officer
10. (1) The Minister must, subject to the provisions of the Public ServiceAct, appoint a Chief Operating Officer. (2) The person appointed as Chief Operating Officer must be a South African citizen
and have sufficient experience and knowledge relating to— (a) public administration; (b) public finance; or (c) legal and constitutional matters affecting public administration.
(3) The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for— (a) the organisation, control, management, effective utilisation and training of all
staff; (b) the maintenance of discipline; and (c) the performance of such powers and duties delegated to him or her in terms of
section 19, excluding a power or duty relating to valuations.
CHAPTER 3
VALUATION OF PROPERTY
Authorised valuers and assistants
11. (1) The Valuer-General may authorise one or more persons to conduct or to assist in the performance of a valuation contemplated in section 12. (2) A person authorised in terms of subsection (1)— (a) to conduct a valuation, must be—
(i) a member of the staff of the Valuer-General who is a registered valuer with extensive experience in the valuation of property; or
(ii) a private practitioner who is a registered valuer;
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(b) to assist in the conduct of a valuation may be a person with non-valuation qualifications, experience and competence, to the extent that such a person is necessary for assisting with any valuation.
(3) The Valuer-General must issue an authorised valuer and a person contemplated in subsection (2)(b) with an identity card containing a photograph of the authorised valuer. (4)Authorised valuers exercise their functions and powers subject to directives issued
by the Valuer-General.
Valuations by Office of Valuer-General
12. (1) Whenever a property has been identified for— (a) purposes of land reform that property must be valued by the Office of the
Valuer-General for purposes of determining the value of the property having regard to the prescribed criteria procedures and guidelines; or
(b) acquisition or disposal by a department, for any reason other than that mentioned in paragraph (a), the market value of such property may, at the request of a department, be determined by the Office of the Valuer-General.
(2) A written notice must be delivered to the owner or person in charge of a property that has been identified in terms of subsection (1), within seven working days of such identification.
General valuation powers
13. (1)When performing a valuation contemplated in section 12, an authorised valuer may, subject to any legal rights—
(a) make extracts from documents, written or electronic records or information; (b) question any person about, any such document, written or electronic record or
information; (c) require the owner, tenant or occupier of the property, or the agent of the owner,
to provide the authorised valuer, either in writing or orally, with particulars regarding the property which the authorised valuer reasonably requires for purposes of valuing the property;
(d) direct a person to disclose, either orally or in writing, any information that may be relevant for the valuation, and question any person about such information relating to the land or property;
(e) direct— (i) a person to disclose information or to give answers to questions in terms
of this subsection in writing or under oath or affirmation; or (ii) that any such information or answers be recorded, relating to the
property. (2) When performing a valuation contemplated in section 12, an authorised valuer
must be in possession and on request produce the identity card referred to in section 11(3). (3) An authorised valuer, may for the purpose of a valuation of a property— (a) subject to any legislation that restricts or prohibits entry to any specific
property, between 07:30 and 18:00 on any day except a Sunday or public holiday, enter any property that must be valued; and
(b) inspect such property for the purpose of the valuation. (4) An authorised valuer may not enter the property contemplated in subsection (3)— (a) unless the owner or occupier of such property has consented thereto in
writing, after being informed; or (b) in the event of such owner or occupier refusing or failing to grant consent
contemplated in paragraph (a), the valuer may obtain a court order authorising such valuer to enter such property, including any building thereon, for purposes of conducting a valuation.
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Conduct of authorised valuers
14. An authorised valuer— (a) may not use the position of valuer for private gain or to improperly benefit
another person; (b) must disclose any personal or any private business interest that the authorised
valuer, or any spouse, parent, child, partner or business associate may have in any property to be valued by that authorised valuer;
(c) may not perform the valuation of a property in which that authorised valuer, or any spouse, parent, child, partner, or business associate of the valuer, has a personal or private business interest; and
(d) must comply with the criteria and procedures contemplated in section 6.
Valuation reports
15. (1) A registered valuer must within six months of the date of the notice referred to in section 12(2) or such extended period as may be approved by the Valuer-General on good cause shown in respect of each valuation referred to in section 12, prepare a valuation report. (2) A valuation report must reflect such opinions, statements and information as may
be required or prescribed and must reflect an opinion or conclusion on the valuation of the property which is the subject of the valuation and must include all relevant information including, where applicable, the current use of the property, the history of the acquisition and use of the property, the market value of the property, an explanation on how a value was determined and the methodology utilised in determining the value.
Valuation fees
16. The Valuer-General, having regard to the professional fees determined in terms of section 35 of the Property Valuers Profession Act, determines the basis for the calculation of valuation fees to be recovered from departments, in respect of valuations referred to in section 12(1)(b).
CHAPTER 4
FINANCIALAND OTHER MATTERS
Part 1
Financial administration
Funds of Office of Valuer-General
17. (1) The funds of the Office of the Valuer-General consist of money— (a) appropriated by Parliament to enable the Office of the Valuer-General to
perform its functions; or (b) received from any other source through the National Revenue Fund.
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), the Office of the Valuer-General must submit to the Minister, at least six months before the start of the financial year of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, or another period agreed to between the Minister and the Office of the Valuer-General, a budget of estimated revenue and expenditure for that financial year, for approval by the Minister. (3) The budget must be submitted to the Minister through the accounting officer of the
Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. (4) The Office of the Valuer-General may not budget for a deficit and may not
accumulate a surplus unless prior written approval of the National Treasury has been obtained. (5) The Valuer-General is responsible for ensuring that expenditure is in accordance
with the approved budget.
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Audit
18. The financial statements and records of the Office of the Valuer-General must be audited annually by the Auditor-General.
Part 2
Miscellaneous
Delegation of powers and duties
19. (1) The Valuer-General may— (a) delegate management or other functions of the Valuer-General to the Chief
Operating Officer or staff members with appropriate skills to assist the Valuer-General in the management and control over the functioning of the Office of the Valuer-General;
(b) delegate any power and duty assigned to the Valuer-General in terms of this Act or any other law to the Chief Operating Officer or any member of the staff of the Office of the Valuer-General; or
(c) instruct the Chief Operating Officer or any member of the staff of the Office of the Valuer-General to perform any of the Valuer-General’s duties in terms of this Act.
(2) The Chief Operating Officer may delegate any power or function assigned to the Chief Operating Officer in terms of this Act to any staff members of the Office of the Valuer-General who possesses appropriate skills. (3) A delegation or instruction in terms of subsection (1)— (a) must be in writing; (b) is subject to any limitations, conditions and directions the Valuer-General may
impose; (c) may include the power to sub-delegate; (d) does not divest the Valuer-General of the responsibility concerning the
exercise of the delegated power or the delegated duty; (e) does not prevent the exercise of the delegated power or delegated duty by the
Valuer-General; and (f) may be withdrawn at any time.
(4) The Valuer-General or Chief Operating Officer may confirm, vary or revoke any decision taken in consequence of a delegation or sub-delegation in terms of this section, subject to any rights that may have accrued to a person as a result of the decision.
Regulations
20. (1) The Minister may make regulations with regard to— (a) any matter the Office of the Valuer-General is required or permitted to
determine in terms of this Act; (b) the criteria, procedures and guidelines for the valuation of property in terms of
this Act; and (c) a system to monitor compliance with the criteria and procedures contemplated
in paragraph (b). (2) (a) Before the Minister makes, repeals or amends any regulation under this
section, he or she must publish by notice in the Gazette a draft of the proposed regulation, repeal or amendment, calling on interested persons to submit comment in writing, within a period not less than 30 days from the date of publication of the notice. (b) If the Minister alters the draft regulations as a result of any comment received, the
Minister need not publish those alterations before making the regulations.
Short title and commencement
21. This Act is called the Property Valuation Act, 2014, and comes into operation on a date fixed by the President by proclamation in the Gazette.
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