Hawthorndene Hotel sale goes through

Update

GEORGE NEWS - The bid of R4,7-million a George businessman made at an auction for the Hawthorndene Hotel ,was accepted on Tuesday 10 October by the liquidators Mazars Recovery & Restructuring (Pty) Ltd and KPMG.

No higher bids were received after the auction hammer fell on Friday 29 September, said Van Rensburg Auctioneers' Frederick Bekker.

The bid made at the auction was ratified by the liquidators. With all the formalities in place, the sale can now go ahead.

The buyer, who so far has only been identified as Andries of Aviostar (Pty) Ltd, saw the potential of the valuable land in Heatherlands despite the legal quagmire presented by the hotel with its huge annexures.

The buyer is also well aware of the practical challenges posed by the people living on the premises illegally.

His wife's handbag was stolen while they were viewing the property and he confirmed he had to offer a cash reward to get it back.

He indicated that he is currently in negotiations to step up security at the property.

The hotel, flats and annexures situated on Erf 13032 comprise 29 sectional title units together with an undivided share in the common property on approximately 10 000m², and is zoned general residential VI for "hotel use".

All the buildings together measure approximately 1 950m².

One of the 45 people living on the property illegally said they were told they would have to evacuate.

She said Rosedale (on the border between Thembalethu and Pacaltsdorp), where emergency housing is supplied to the homeless, is so far out of town that living there seems a bleak prospect.

Athane Scholtz, George Municipality media liaison officer, said the conditions of the auction determine that the new owner will be responsible for the eviction of the illegal occupants.