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THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 10 2012 20:54 | LAST UPDATED Feb 10 2012 20:54 |
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The South African government bought the London house of former ANC president OR Tambo for a cool R17-million in February after outbidding another would-be buyer, who was ready to sign on the dotted line. The up-market property, in London’s Muswell Hill, will be used to house a senior staff member who works for the South African High Commission. President Jacob Zuma visited the house, where the Tambo family stayed from the 1960s until 1990, during his recent state visit to the UK. British sources said an offer of R13-million had been on the verge of being accepted, but that the South African government had gazumped the buyer. The government said this week that it had paid slightly less than the original asking price of R18-million. "The original asking price was £1,8-million and that was later reduced to £1,645-million. The total cost, including transfer cost, duties and solicitors' fees amounted to £1,669 061," said Kgomotso Molobi, the international relations spokesperson. Former high commissioner Lindiwe Mabuza first mooted the idea of buying the house in 2008. Approval for the sale was received in October and the transfer of ownership took place in February this year. Molobi said a senior member of the high commission would use the house. The current tenants would move out "sooner than expected". The presidency said in a statement last week that the house "has recently been acquired by the South African government as a representation of the solidarity of the British people during the anti-apartheid struggle and a tribute to the life of Oliver Tambo". The chairperson of Action for Southern Africa, the successor to the anti-apartheid movement, Tony Dykes, told the Mail & Guardian his organisation was unaware of any plans for the property.  CONTINUES BELOW "We would like to be of assistance on what could be done to the place, but we haven't been approached and have no idea what the house will be used for." A South African expert on heritage, who also works for government, conceded that it was important to maintain links with memories of South Africans who were exiled during the apartheid years. But the source, who asked not to be named, said: "Whether or not such spending is justified would depend on what it is used for. "I'm concerned with the budgets that are available locally and whether we should be spending such money." TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
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 Monument to the struggleFormer ANC president OR Tambo’s London house was purchased by the government for a cool
R17-million. (Elmond Jiyane, GCIS) Client Media Releases
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