Auction Alliance founder Rael Levitt tried very hard to stifle a Business Day report about his company, although in the end he failed.
Arguably the most disgraceful estate agent that has ever operated in South Africa, Wendy Machanik, has finally spoken publicly about her actions, and taken full responsibility for her public and humiliating downfall.
The debate over whether Independent Newspapers took a money-received “discount” from Auction Alliance as part of a property auction last year left the media as quickly as it entered it.
This is what happens when you couple shoddy detective work with a good legal team. Auction Alliance has won its third straight victory in line with exonerating itself from any penalty relating to the Appelbaum auction rigging scandal.
Wow, I don’t know if you have the latest issue of Noseweek handy, but there is a very spicy story inside. They (Noseweek) are claiming that Independent Newspapers hid a story from publication, because Auction Alliance had power over them, due to a kickback they (Argus – Independent Newspapers) had received. Here is an excerpt: […]
Judgement was handed down yesterday afternoon in the Cape High Court that means that the application for a warrant sought by the Estate Agency Affairs Board to search the offices of Auction Alliance in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg, was temporarily rejected. The auction house won’t be counting its chicken before they hatch, though.
Yesterday, the Western Cape High court handed down a judgement that ruled that National Consumer Commissioner, Mamodupi Mohlala-Mulaudzi, acted outside of her powers when she summoned three Auction Alliance executives, including Rael Levitt, to appear before the National Consumer Commission earlier this year. It’s a notable victory for Auction Alliance, but doesn’t rule out a criminal investigation into possible fraud.
[image source : Russell Roberts – Sunday Times] The Sunday Times reported that former Auction Alliance boss, Rael Levitt would be arrested if he did not attend a hearing about alleged bidding irregularities. According to the writer who reported the story, Levitt had confirmed on the telephone that he was still in the United States – something […]
2oceansvibe has been forwarded a letter from Rael Levitt’s attorneys, Smiedt & Associates, refuting a recent Mail & Guardian article which claims that Levitt has been found guilty of the “Biggest White-Collar Crime In South African History.” Here is the letter: The Mail & Guardian has now removed the article.
A report this morning indicated that a “large contingent” of the Johannesburg Auction Alliance sales staff were set to resign. They were reported to be “in talks” with Aucor yesterday about them looking for new jobs. Much more seems to have happened today, though.
Pending the outcome of investigations into claims of staff receiving kickbacks for preferential treatment, Absa, Nedbank, First National Bank and Investec have all stopped doing business with Auction Alliance. The latest development comes after news broke earlier in the week, that Auction Alliance CEO, Rael Levitt, had relinquished his post.