Times Of Swaziland: 6 DEFAULTING MBABANE PROPERTIES REVOKED

6 DEFAULTING MBABANE PROPERTIES REVOKED
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BY KWANELE DHLADHLA  on 03/12/2019 00:45:00


MBABANE – Out of the nine houses which had been lined up for auction to
recover arrear rates and charges due to the Municipal Council of Mbabane, only
three eventually went up for auction.
Out of the three which were lined up for auction, only two were sold. The vacant
and developed properties located at Sidwashini South were sold for E96 000 and
E153 000, respectively.
The Business Desk reliably learnt that the other six properties were revoked
from the auction sale after the property owners settled what was due to the
municipality.
Issued
A notice of sale for the public auction had been issued by the Mbabane
Magistrates Clerk of Court.
Four of the properties located at different parts of the capital city had been
developed while five of them were reported to be vacant.
The highest on the developed property list which  is located on Portion 32 of
Plot 65 at Sidwashini South and had a reserve price of E424 000.
Attract
This was the same property that did not attract any bids.
The auction was held at the Mbabane Magistrates Court car park and conducted by
Deputy Sheriff David Magagula.
As per norm, if any dispute arises about any bid of property being sold pursuant
to a writ of attachment, it may again be put up for auction.
If the auctioneer makes any mistake in selling, such a mistake shall not be
binding on any of the parties, but may be rectified.
Suspects
“If the auctioneer suspects that the bidder is unable to pay the deposit (of
10 per cent of the purchase price in cash on the day of the sale) or the balance
of the purchase price, he may refuse the bid of such offer or accept it
provisionally until the bidder has satisfied him that he is in a position to pay
both such amounts,” reads public auction sale of property in part.
Liable
Further, if the purchaser gets normally liable to pay the auctioneer’s charges
on the day of the sale and in addition, transfer dues, costs of transfer, taxes
and other charges necessary.
However, it should be pointed out that this does not necessarily mean the same
conditions will apply in this particular auction.
The Municipal’s Public Relations Information Officer Lucky Tsabedze has on
numerous occasions advised that the council takes rates defaults issues to court
as a last resort.
Allows
He has mentioned that council allows for negotiations for settlement of due
rates and developed competitions to encourage ratepayers to pay up.
An attorney, who preferred anonymity, explained that procedurally, the
difference between the arrear rates due and final auction price should be
remitted to the property owner after legal and other costs have been deducted.