WEEKLY NEWS – 25 November 2011
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: THE HEART WHICH CAN SPOT THE PRETTY, IS MORE RECEPTIVE FOR THE GOOD – Sean Parker Dennison
In today’s newsletter –
· Returns of farm information for valuation purposes
· NAPHA has to look wider
· FA and other news
Returns of farm information for valuation purposes
A notice was published in Government Gazette No 4833, dated 15 November 2011, in terms of which the Minister of Lands and Resettlement requires certain information for valuation of farm land for land tax purposes in accordance with the Land Valuation and Taxation Regulations, 2007. These Regulations are in terms of Section 77 of the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act, 1995, as amended.
Numerous enquiries have been received by the NAU regarding the content of the Land Tax Return Form and whether all the information is relevant for the purposes of land tax as stipulated in the Act. The Valuer General at the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement assured the NAU that the information will not be used for any other purpose, other than is stipulated in the Act for land taxation purposes.
In terms of the Regulations a mass appraisal system is being used to determine the unimproved site (prairie) value (USV) of agricultural land for land tax purposes. The current inspection of farms by the Ministry is to collect improvements data on farms that changed ownership since 2006. This has been done to determine the value at which bare land might be sold by a willing seller to a willing buyer as stipulated in terms of Regulation 4(6) of the Land Valuation and Taxation Regulations. For land taxation purposes, the valuer must then disregard all improvements on the specific land to determine the prairie value of that land for land tax purposes.
Although the Ministry performed spot checks on land that changed hands since 2006, as indicated above, the Ministry needs the information of each individual farm to compare the already acquired information with that as provided on the questionnaire. This will enable the Ministry to come to a reasonable prairie value of land with the same physiographic characteristics such as carrying capacity (with disregard of overgrazing and bush encroachment).
This questionnaire will be provided to all agricultural land owners.
Although the Act stipulates that these questionnaires should be returned by the 31st January 2012, the Valuer General indicated that this deadline will be extended to give landowners sufficient time to complete the questionnaire and return it in time to the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement. Any farmer that requires more information regarding the Land Tax Return Form can contact the Valuer General on telephone numbers 061 2965100/061 2965101/061 2965030.
NAPHA has to look wider
On the 38th General Annual Meeting of the professional hunters, the president of NAPHA, MrJanneman Brand said that NAPHA cannot sit on an island but have to be part of other hunters associations in Africa and the world. Against this background, decisions and management of NAPHA have to take note about what is going on in the world. As an example he mentioned that the illegal hunting of rhino’s is a global problem which threatens these species and that Namibia has to take note that this will most probably increase in Namibia.
Questions such as elephant hunting, breeding and hunting of lions as well as ethnical hunting are a big challenge for hunting associations throughout the world. Hunters Associations have a big responsibility to expand and maintain the ethics of this profession so that the general public will get the proper picture thereof.
Various awards were also given at the Annual General Meeting. The most active NAPHA member for 2011 was Mrs Gudrun Heger of Okahandja whilst Dr Chris Brown received the award for the Conservationist of the Year. MrsHeger encouraged other NAPHA members to actively take part in the activities of the organization whilst Dr Chris Brown appealed to Government to legalize the sale of rhino horns.
As part of their money collection campaign of the year, NAPHA members sell medals. This year Mark and AntheaKoekemoer of Gobabis received the award for selling the most medals.
Temporary office closure
The Roads Authority announced that the Roads Authority Head Office, the Windhoek NaTIS Tal Str office, the Transport Regulation Services office as well as the Aris and Brackwater weighbridges will be closed for the day on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 due to internal official business. Any enquiries can be addressed to HileniFillemon, Tel 061 2847145/67, pr@ra.org.na.
We say thank you
Attie and Elsa Knipe and family would like to thank everybody who helped extinguish the fire on Ubib and Spreetshoogte pass.
We really appreciated each person’s assistance. Thank you.
FA and other news
Summerdown FA is holding its annual Xmas tree on December 10 at 18:00 at the FA hall. Everybody is welcome. Guests who want to bring along children under the age of 12 years or granny or granddad, must please give the names before December 1 to MardaleenDerks, Tel 062 568887, derks@iway.na.
Aroab FA is holding its last meeting for the year on December 2. The year end function will also take place on December 2 under the theme “uittoeka se dae”. Farmers Associations who want to take part in the Meatco Inter Farmers Association braai competition, must please sent the entry forms to Brenda Kotze to Fax 063 281218, P O Box 76, Aroab or Kalahari@iway.na.
Omuramba FA is holding its year end function on November 26 at 18:30 for 19:00 and this will be a bring and braai. Please register with MarikaEngelbrecht, Tel 062 571545, engelk@mweb.com.na.
Uhlenhorst FA is holding a meeting on November 26 at 15:00 at the FA hall. Guest speaker is MrAppie van Niekerk who will talk about electric fencing on farms. A new management will be elected. For further details contact Mr Willie, Krügel, Tel 063 265311, 081 2492509, disal@iway.na.
Dorsland FA will hold its year end function on December 3 at 19:00 in the club hall at Saambou. This will be a dinner and dance and entry fees will be announced at a later stage. For further details contact Ellie Lottering, Tel 081 2924917,franseli@iway.na
Helmeringhausen FA is holding a meeting on November 30 at 14:00 at the FA centre. Guest speaker is a representative from the stock theft unit of the Namibia Police in Keetmanshoop. For further details contact Christian Frank-Schultz, Tel 081 3543619,duwisib@iway.na.
Witvlei FA is holding its year end function on December 3 at 18:00 in the farmer house at Witvlei. Before the year end function there will be a short FA meeting. Please register not later than November 21 with Wilfried, Tel 062 570340 or Monica, Tel 062 570317, gmbouwer@iway.na.
The 2012 Meatco Inter Farmers Association braai competition will be held on March 31, 2012 at the Keetmanshoop Show Grounds. The theme is “//karas” (which means Kokerboom). Exhibitors can book their exhibition space now already. Entries for the braai teams close on February 15, 2011. Further details for the booking of stands can be obtained from ANTOINETTE OOSTHUYSEN, Tel 063 683433, antoinetteoosthuysen@iway.na. To enter braai teams – FA and social, contact BRENDA KOTZE, Tel 063 281208, Kalahari@iway.na and any other information can be obtained from WILLEM STEENKAMP, Tel 063 280655, toulon@iway.na.
