Auctioneer confident of selling Gupta brothers' Saxonwold properties

JOHANNESBURG - The auctioneers who are tasked with selling the elaborate Gupta compound properties said that the identities of the previous owners may draw many fascinated viewers who have no intention to buy.

Park Village Auctions opened the Saxonwold properties up to the media on Monday ahead of the auction in July.

Three properties owned by the controversial brothers are set to be sold separately.

As you walk into the grossly opulent main Gupta home, you are met by two giant velvet chairs and The New Age newspaper rack where guests may have been offered a copy of one of the Gupta brothers' latest daily news offerings.

The eight-bedroom ensuite house, with an indoor pool, is cold, with tile, granite and mirrors a clear theme in the house.

But there are two more properties sandwiching the main house - one a more modest, three-bedroom older suburban house thought to be the staff quarters, and on the other side is a 17-bedroom massive ensuite building that resembles a guest house.

Graham van Niekerk from Park Village Auctions said these properties, which would be sold separately, would likely draw different buyers.

"I think the properties will sell. I think the key will be where that point is, as you’ve seen again, the properties are in a little bit of disrepair and are going to need some TLC, a good fixer-upper. Other than that, I don’t see any difficulty selling the properties," said van Niekerk.

The properties have a municipal value of about R5.5 million, R36 million and R21 million, respectively.

The auction will take place on 24 July.