Bosasa assets ‘to go under hammer’
DENIAL: THERE’S ABSOLUTELY NO AUCTION, SAYS WATSON
Auctioneers say the matter needs to be resolved between the liquidators, Bosasa.
Following news that Park Village Auctions would be auctioning off the assets of African Global Operations, formerly known as Bosasa, from December 4 to 6, the company itself has responded by saying it’s nonsense.
An advertisement on the website of liquidators Sechaba Trust, which is run by Cloete Murray, claimed that items including late Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson’s metallic blue BMW X5 would be going under the hammer along with numerous vehicles, office furniture, catering equipment, workshop and gardening tools, computer equipment, security equipment, office furniture, household furniture and several properties.
The properties included the controversial Lindela Repatriation Centre as well as the company’s head office and copper plant.
A viewing was advertised for December 3 from 9am to 3pm.
Since then, Park Village Auctions have also started advertising the auction, with a post going on to Facebook yesterday.
Bosasa went into voluntary liquidation in February this year following banks announcing that they would be closing their accounts due to corruption allegations.
Watson’s nephew Jared Watson, who is also the executor of his uncle’s estate and who has been assisting the company in accounting matters, yesterday
technicalities would stop any such auction from going ahead. “There is absolutely no auction occurring regarding Bosasa/ African Global assets in December,” he said. “This is merely false information being spread most likely by Cloete Murray, who has no authority to bring an auction.”
He provided as evidence two court documents that stipulated what would be required to sell any Bosasa assets.
“No assets can be sold by the liquidators without the consent of the directors of the company, and no such consent has been given.”
When called for comment, Murray did not want to respond about the dispute over the phone and asked for questions to be e-mailed.
It’s understood that Bosasa’s lawyers have already sent a letter to the auctioneers to advise them of their legal position and rights. The auctioneers, however, said the matter needed to be resolved between the liquidators and Bosasa, and as far as they were concerned, the auction would still be happening.