Hawthorndene sold on auction

Within hours of the Hawthorndene Hotel in Heatherlands going under the hammer at the auction price of R4,7-million on Friday 29 September, the eager buyer had paid the deposit and commission, meeting all the requirements for a successful transaction. There is a period to submit higher offers until 12:00 on 6 October at the offices of the auctioneers; the seller however has the right to accept the current offer at any time before 6 October. The George buyer will have a "first right-of-refusal" chance to match any higher offer. The seller has until 20 October at 12:00 to accept or decline this offer.

'Positive feel'

Auctioneer Frederick Bekker of Van Rensburg Auctioneers said he is confident that this time round, the sale will be concluded successfully. He said that his company has made an all-out effort to convey the correct information to prospective buyers regarding development parameters, land use, illegal occupancy, electrical certificate of compliance and subdivision possibilities. The buyer, whose identity will be made known as soon as the liquidators approve his bid, is au fait with the legal obstacles, including the eviction of about 45 residents who live on the premises illegally. He was fully aware of the controversy and nefarious activities, including petty pilfering and theft committed by people living in the dilapidated hotel. He (the buyer) briefly mentioned that his wife's handbag was stolen while they were inspecting the premises.

Drama

The auction, held in Tamsui industria, yielded a spark of drama. Before Bekker commenced with the auction, one of Hawthorndene Hotel's illegal flat occupants complained loudly that the emergency housing offered by the George Municipality is a "hokkie" (cubicle) and amounts to a zinc structure near the ocean. The George Municipality's attorney Arlene Smit (Nico Smit Attorneys) was there to answer questions about the municipality's willingness to provide emergency housing.

She said the emergency housing in Rosedale is intended for people in dire straits and a lifeline would only be extended to families on the municipality's register for indigent housing.

When an informal count was done in April this year, there were said to be 45 destitute people living in the flats and in the annexure of the hotel.

Seven Bidders

Bekker said before the auction he had received a lot of enquiries about the property, but on the day of auction there were only seven registered buyers. The municipal arrears would be paid over to the George Municipality by the liquidators of the property. The purchaser will have to obtain the permission of Heritage Western Cape to either restore or demolish the old hotel. This is apparently the fourth sale by auction of the property.