AN UNNAMED black empowerment company has snapped up a prime piece of council-owned Hyde Park land for R3,5m – the highest value online auction item yet sold in South Africa. The auction, which attracted 20 bids, attracted several overseas bidders, according to David Bloch, CEO of auctioneers SalesBid. The vacant property was one of several being sold by the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council to raise funds for infrastructure development. All bidders had pre-qualified for the auction, which was conducted online “to ensure transparency” in the sale of vacant land. “Everybody can see everyone else bidding,” Bloch was quoted as saying. The land, which measures 33500 sq m, has been zoned as residential property. It is not clear what the new owners plan to do with their acquisition.