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REBOSIS PROPERTY FUND LIMITED - Response to Carte Blanche episode on property devaluations at City of Johannesburg

Release Date: 15/11/2016 14:50
Code(s): REB     PDF:  
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Response to Carte Blanche episode on property devaluations  at City of Johannesburg

REBOSIS PROPERTY FUND LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 2010/003468/06)
JSE share code: REB ISIN: ZAE000201687
(Approved as a REIT by the JSE)
(“the company”)


RESPONSE TO CARTE BLANCHE EPISODE ON PROPERTY DEVALUATIONS AT CITY OF JOHANNESBURG


Shareholders are referred to an episode on property devaluations aired by Carte Blanche on the evening of
13 November 2016.

This programme insinuated illegal council devaluations of certain properties and made specific reference to the company,
creating an impression that Rebosis was involved in these alleged practices.

At the outset the company wants to make it clear that Rebosis stands against all and any form of corruption and encourages
authorities to expose and deal with such as it corrodes the country and those found guilty must be dealt with accordingly.

These allegations are completely unfounded and misleading.

Carte Blanche engaged with Rebosis on 27 October 2016 on the matter and the company duly responded in detail on the
29 October 2016. This correspondence as well as supporting documentation is available and published on the Rebosis
website.

In 2013, following significant and unrealistic increases in property valuations from the City of Johannesburg, Rebosis
appointed Hirsuflo Trading as an independent valuations’ consultant to deal with the valuations’ process.

Rebosis does not engage directly with council valuers but utilises valuers and specialised consultants to object to council(s)
unilateral increases in valuations each year. This process commences with council valuers and failing resolution it runs
through to their independent valuations’ appeal board consisting of 10 (ten) members, including 7 (seven) independent
members.

Of the four properties mentioned by Carte Blanche, the company’s independent valuers objected to three properties in
respect of the valuations, and one property in respect of rezoning from residential to commercial (Erf 4767) resulting in an
increase in the valuation.

Two of the objections were not successful and the process went through to the valuations’ appeal board and adjustments
were made as per the detailed response that is available and published on the Rebosis website. Hirsuflo provided the
company with all official objection numbers and official appeal numbers. (Refer table below.)

All these objection and appeal numbers are logged and exist in the City of Johannesburg System for the period July 2013 to
March 2015.

                                           CoJ
              Original CoJ          valuations                                                      Final        Difference
                valuations      role increases                                                 valuations      between June
                     as at            effected   Objection                       Appeal       post appeal      2013 & final
Erf              June 2013         1 July 2013      number     Intervention      number      board ruling        valuations
4767            R5 750 000         R20 600 000          No     Rezoning from     No           R20 600 000       R14 850 000
                                                 objection     Resi to           appeal
                                                               Commercial
1271           R37 432 500        R132 200 000        OBJ-     Appeal lodged     4637         R92 500 000       R55 067 500
Harrison                                            257213
Str
4442           R23 000 000         R79 600 000        OBJ-     Appeal lodged     4639         R52 000 000       R29 000 000
                                                    266431
5145           R68 890 000        R152 200 000    SUP3-404     Supplementary     No           R44 700 000      (R24 190 000)
Braamfon                                                       objection won     appeal
tein
              R135 072 500                                                                   R209 800 000       R74 727 500

It is important to note that the difference from the original City of Johannesburg valuations dated June 2013 is actually
R74 727 500 higher, which equates to a 55% increase in value (R135 072 500 to R209 800 000).

The company’s response to Carte Blanche (which information Carte Blanche conveniently ignored) stated that Erf Selby
South Ext 1 increased in valuation from R0 to R120 million, which was the purchase price.

The company’s valuers have received official notification yesterday that the valuation increased from zero to R58.4 million,
following the Carte Blanche airing.

With regard to Erf Selby South Ext 1 Rebosis did not receive any correspondence from the municipality regarding the rates
accounts for a period of time. When Rebosis informed the municipality that the company was not receiving rates accounts
the municipality discovered that the erf was not on its records.

Further, as a pre-caution, not only does Rebosis utilise consultants with good credentials, the company also requires
consultants to sign an indemnity whereby they undertake and warrant not to bribe nor solicit undue favour from any council
officials in rendering their duties, same is available and published on the Rebosis website for shareholders’ information
dated 03 September 2015. This is over and above the consultant’s mandate and has become standard practise for Rebosis as
a public entity in utilising external consultants.

Rebosis will be taking this matter up with the Mayor of Johannesburg and all other role players concerned and is engaging
further with Carte Blanche, reserving all the company’s rights, in particular the company’s right to lodge a complaint with
the Broadcasting Complaints Commission.

By order
The Board

15 November 2016

Sponsor
Java Capital

Communications Advisor
Instinctif Partners                                   +27 (0) 11 447 3030
Morne Reinders                                        +27 (0) 82 325 1810
Tshepo Mophiring                                      +27 (0) 82 610 1156

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