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Durban – Electricity transformers on offer at a municipal auction in Durban on Wednesday did not go to the highest bidder, but were sold to people who weren’t “millionaires” or “Indian”.
This is according to two bidders who said they were ignored during the sale of the transformers, worth thousands as scrap metal.
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I have laid a complaint with the municipal ombudsman,” said a Gauteng businessman who declined to be named. He had flown to Durban specifically for the sale of the municipal items in Electron Road.
“I did a lot of homework here. I made a list of what I wanted and what I would pay,” he said.
He wanted the transformers, of which 27 were available.
“I would value them (all 27) at R2.5 million. When the auction started the auctioneers said, ‘today’s auction is not for one single millionaire and will include everyone.’ I thought that was fine.”
The auctioneer then reportedly said he would “not be selling to Indians”.
The businessman said the transformers were then sold at designated prices to buyers who had their cards raised, and no bidding took place.
He said he was “completely ignored”, when he raised his card.
“A woman from the municipality tried to stop the auction, but he (the auctioneer) overruled her and continued.”
“I took out my phone to record what was happening and I was told to leave the auction.”
He was then accosted by security guards, but ran away when they tried to take his cellphone. Video footage seen by The Mercury shows the man being asked to leave by the auctioneer.
A local bidder, who declined to be named, told a similar story as he, too, was interested in buying a transformer.
He said some of the transformers were sold for R50 000 while he had been willing to spend R100 000 but was ignored.
Asked to comment, Sfiso Gumedi, owner of Kuphelele Auctioneers which conducted the auction, said that just because the “giants” did not walk away with the transformers, they were complaining.
He said the auction had been conducted completely above board, and confirmed the man from Gauteng was asked to leave for being “unruly” and “trying to buy the whole auction”.
The auctioneer, Sibusiso Sihlophe, said he was an “equal opportunity auctioneer” and would not entertain “one group” at the expense of other buyers.
He added that “a certain racial group” always dominated auctions and outbid individual buyers.
“Everyone must have an equal opportunity. No one was not allowed to bid though,” said Sihlophe.
“I knew this would happen when the transformers came out. We weren’t prepared to give all the transformers to one group.”
He said a group of black buyers became aggressive during the auction as well, and he sold items to them to “appease” their anger.
eThekwini Municipality spokesman Thabo Mofokeng had not commented at the time of going to press.
The Mercury
