A luxury Constantia mansion and its contents will be sold by public auction in January after its owner, Baroness Alexandra von Maltzahn, fled the country under a cloud of debt in Jul. The auction is being conducted after a provisional sequestration order was set aside by the Cape High Court in November and Standard Bank, which is owed R45million, has power of attorney to sell the property over-looking the Constantia valley.

In October 2002, Baron Victor and Baroness Alexandra Von Maltzahn moved to the controversial Constantia Heights property on Rhodes Drive. The mansion on two stands was once the home of Dutch-Indonesian millionaire Jan Walter de Witte, who bonded it to his ex-wife Maria van Waasbergen as security for the millions he owed her in a divorce settlement, before transferring it to his divorce attorney Abe Swersky.

According to media reports, the Von Maltzahn's renovated the house before taking occupation. They re-carpeted all the rooms and installed luxury finishes, including a state-of-the-art security system with 18 perimeter cameras to assist their four full-time security staff and two bodyguards. The garden was also revamped and landscaped. Potted Eugenia lollipops, each weighing over 850kg, were delivered by crane and mature conifers planted along the home's grand driveway.

After the Baron and Baroness moved into the mansion, it was reported that they entertained in grand style and mingled with high society. The couple hosted exclusive and lavish parties in the antique-filled mansion and had regular visits from neighbour Mark Thatcher, his mother, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and another neighbourhood friend, Simon Mann.

In July this year, the Baroness fled the country leaving the house strewn with her clothing and personal effects. Her abandoned luxury Range Rover vehicle was collected by auctioneers at Cape Town International Airport after security at the airport alerted authorities.

Now this property perched above the valley - together with a vacant stand and over 300 items of the Baroness' personal effects and furnishings - will fall under the Alliance Group hammer. Comments Ish Hendricks of Alliance Group, who is handling public enquiries: "The high profile nature of this sale has led to a flood of local and international inquiries to our offices".

The baronial home is situated halfway between Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Constantia Nek. The grounds are spaced on over 8,000m2 above the picturesque Constantia Valley, boasting several world-renowned wine estates. The homestead boasts several spacious en-suite bedrooms, an internal lift which goes down to the an indoor swimming pool; as well as entertainment area, library, conservatory, wine cellar, gym, sauna, cottage and garaging for six cars.

A separate adjacent vacant stand of over 9,000 m² will also be on offer at the auction. "Besides the main house and hundreds of expensive items, this sale presents a rare opportunity for a buyer to purchase a vacant stand land in one of the country's most exclusive suburbs with uninterrupted views across the Cape Peninsula," comments Hendricks.

In addition to the real estate, the entire contents of the house, ranging across exquisite antique furniture, handbags, jewellery, book collections, crockery, lounge suites, beds and gym equipment, will also be on offer at the no reserve auction.

Comments Rael Levitt, CEO of Alliance Group: "These sorts of auctions always elicit enormous public interest. Several years ago we sold the nearby Constantia mansion of convicted German fraudster Jurgen Harksen. These high profile characters always provide enormous entertainment for curiosity seekers, but more importantly their assets provide lucky bidders with unprecedented investment opportunities".

The auction takes place on Friday the 22nd of January at 11am on-site at 1 on Rhodes Drive and will be conducted by the Alliance Chief Executive.

Article from: www.realestateweb.co.za