The controversial Property Rates Bill was saved from delays last night when the select committee for local government relented and asked the department to investigate further the amendments it wanted to make.

THE Property Rates Bill, which will regulate the power that municipalities have to levy rates on property, was recently passed by the National Assembly and is scheduled to come into effect on 1 July.

Private sector contribution to local economies is undermined by officials' ambivalence towards it, study finds

Cape Town - The portfolio committee on finance's tortuous efforts to finalise the Municipal Finance Management Bill hit another stumbling block on Friday when it heard widely contradictory legal interpretations about the government's ability to place limits on municipal revenue-raising decisions.

Authorities say owners will be protected from unduly high payments.

Legislation governing property tax at local government level has been