Buyers Snap Up Industrial Erven

- Linda Jaquet -

Sixteen plots put up for sale by the Municipality in Prince Albert’s industrial area on 1 December 2008 were snapped up by buyers that same day. The majority of buyers were local residents, who paid R50.00 per square metre for the plots that ranged in size from just over 500m² to approximately 1000m². Remaining plots were sold to buyers from Johannesburg and Cape Town.

In selling the plots, the Municipality hoped that small industries run in backyards in residential areas would relocate to the town’s industrial area.
A condition of sale was that the plots must be developed as industrial businesses within two years. If not, owners will be obliged to sell them back to the Municipality for the price that they paid. The plot reserved by the Municipality for black empowerment was not sold.

According to Dawid Rossouw, Acting Municipal Manager, monies received from the sale of the plots will cover costs incurred by the Municipality, such as land surveying and provision of basic infrastructure. Based on the success of this sale, the Council is considering putting a further 10 to 15 plots in the industrial area on the market.