Property-tax storm looming - SA

[dArKeR]

Cape Town - Churches, mosques and other places of worship will escape the long arm of property-tax laws, but welfare organisations, independent schools and conservation bodies will be at the mercy of municipalities.

This is apparent after a bill on property taxation was approved in parliament on Tuesday.

The committee on provincial and local government spent 320 hours studying the bill and described it as "the most technical" bill with which they had had to deal.

The passing of the bill has been described as a move to broaden the country's tax base.

The bill now allows municipalities to charge rates and taxes on land owned by welfare organisations, private schools and conservation bodies.

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0,,2-7-12_1485180,00.html