Sale of scarce cycads

More than 218000 plants, including 1900 cycads, will go under the hammer later this month, Auction Alliance said on Monday.

This was part of the sale of Froman's Eden, one of South Africa's largest suppliers of high-quality cycads - some of which have scarcity value - palms and other plant species. Between R3-million and R6-million was expected to be fetched for the cycads.

Heavy commercial vehicles, flatbed trailers, quad bikes, three farms, farming and office equipment would also be on auction.

"An alleged acrimonious dissolution of a partnership between local horticulturist and businessman Mark Froman and his Italian partner, Mario Margheriti, has resulted in a liquidation through Independent Trustees, with the farms being placed under the gavel on a voluntary basis by Froman," Auction Alliance said. "This auction will attract the interest of discerning private and landscaping clients worldwide," said Dan Fine, head of Capital Assets at the auction house.

The sale takes place on site on August 19.