Westdene’s 10A auctioned off at the sheriff’s office
WESTDENE – Going once, going twice, 10A is officially sold.
The end could be near for the problems arising from the property 10A in Westdene following it being auctioned off.
On 3 October at the sheriff’s offices in Braamfontein, 10A and another property on the same road were both sold to the highest bidder. The properties were sold together for a total of R607 000. The sale of these properties were as per court order handed down on 27 March.
In August, the Westdene-Sophiatown Residents Association (WSRA) stated that they were given a letter by the City which was a copy of lawyer’s letters giving the owner three months to fix and vacate all tenants from the property. The time period had passed and the property remained to be occupied by those living there, regardless of the lack of running water, sewerage and electricity. The WSRA always maintained that the building is a health and safety hazard and no place for children to live after one child passed on there earlier this year.
Prior to the auction, details of the properties’ size, features, and arrears were announced by the auctioneers. Number 10A has a property size of 496m2 and owes the City R597 616. The second property, which is owned by the same person as 10A, has a property size of 496m2 and has a bill of R75 693 owed to the City for rates and taxes.
In September the Northcliff Melville Times reported that the City of Johannesburg stated that a date for litigation against the infamous 10A property had been scheduled. Poppy Louw, City stakeholder manager, said legal action will be taken soon thanks to the case having a date set for it to be heard. It was also discovered that penalties had been imposed on the property since May 2018. The last time payment made towards the account of the owner was way back in 2013.
In an extremely rowdy and almost uncontrollable auction room, bidding for the buildings started at R10 000 but soon ballooned to R100 000. Various bidders showed their commitment to purchasing the properties. Once one bid for R225 000 another would up their bid to R300 000. The bidding began to slow down once it reached the R500 000 region but managed to get to the final bid of R607 000. Bidders were reminded that the execution creditor, sheriff and/or the plaintiffs’ attorneys would not give any warranties or guarantees in regard to the description, state and necessary improvements of the property.
This is a developing story.
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