Yes. The act contains checks and balances to protect property owners. The Minister for Provincial and Local Government, with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, can limit the Cent amount in the Rand that municipalities impose, if such proof can be provided that such a Cent amount in the Rand on specific category of properties is materially and unreasonably prejudicing national economic policies, economic activities across municipal boundaries or the national mobility of goods, services, capital or labour. Any sector of the economy, after consulting the relevant municipality or municipalities and organised local government, may, through its organised structures, request the Minister for Provincial and Local Government to evaluate evidence to the effect that a particular Cent amount in the Rand on any specific category of properties, or a rate on any specific category of properties above a specific Cent amount in the Rand, is materially and unreasonably prejudicing any of the matters mentioned above.
The Act also provides for the Minister for Provincial and Local Government, with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, to set an upper limit on the percentage by which rates on properties or a rate on a specific category of properties may be increased.
The Act provides for the MEC for Local Government in a province to monitor whether municipalities in a province comply with the provisions of the Act, including Ministerial decisions on the issues mentioned above.
