A mansion that once belonged to slain mining magnate Brett Kebble was auctioned for R14,5-million in Inanda, Johannesburg on Thursday.
The bid for the 0,8ha property, known as ”Hoëveld House”, was won by Johannesburg businessman Terry McKlintock and his wife Merle.
”We were looking for a house in the area. We used to live up the road,” McKlintock said.
”It’s a very gracious home. We will fix it up.”
The couple, who did not want to discuss the bid, were whisked inside the mansion when the auction ended.
The auction was attended by former Discovery Health chief executive Adrian Gore. Gore had put in a bid for the house before the auction was held.
Auctioneer Rael Levitt said several people, with cheque books exceeding R10-million, were in the audience. Bidding started at R6-million.
”We are happy with the price. It is a very unique property,” Levitt said.
”The fact that it was once owned by Brett Kebble did add to it.”
The house is more than 1 000 square metres in size, has five bedrooms, including a main bedroom with his and hers bathrooms and dressing rooms. It has a boardroom, fireplaces in nearly every room and a study.
There are five garages, a temperature-controlled wine room and a kitchen with a walk-in fridge. There are 13 closed-circuit TV cameras, steel security gates and a safe room.
Auctioneers valued the garden, which has two boreholes, at more than R2-million.
Several areas of the house appeared to have been neglected, including the tennis court, which was cracked and the heated pool, which was green.
Kebble, known for his flamboyant style, spent his final evening in the house before being shot dead execution style near the M1 highway in Melrose on September 29 2005.
He sold the property to a third party a few days before he died. No one has been arrested in connection with his murder. — Sapa