While the Hawks are set to examine evidence seized during raids at Auction Alliance properties, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) said it was investigating five new complaints against the company.

Members of the anti-corruption task team, which include the South African Revenue Services, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Special Investigating Unit and the National Treasury on Tuesday swooped on properties in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern and Western Cape.

Earlier this year, Auction Alliance was accused of paying bogus bidders to drive up bids at their auctions. 

Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela said raids on Auction Alliance properties were aimed at gathering evidence in its investigation into the auctioneering firm.

“It will take a couple of days analysing the evidence that we will have gotten from the operation. If we feel there’s more [evidence] we need to get, we will take a decision.”

National Consumer Commissioner Mamodupi Mohlala-Mulaudzi said since the original complaint from businesswoman Wendy Appelbaum was lodged, five more complainants had come forward.

She said the complaints were related to misrepresentations and bogus biddings.

Appelbaum laid a complaint to the commission last year that a “ghost” bidder was used to force up the bidding for a R50 million estate she bought.

Auction Alliance said it was challenging Tuesday’s raids and was questioning the validity of the search warrants.

(Edited by Thato Motaung)