Property

Inside the Gupta brothers’ Saxonwold mansions going on auction

Daily Investor • 19 June 2025

Three Saxonwold mansions previously owned by South Africa’s infamous Gupta brothers are set to go on auction in July.

Atul and Rajesh Gupta had close ties to former President Jacob Zuma and his administration, and investigations into their involvement in state capture in South Africa are ongoing.

While in South Africa, the Gupta family operated multiple businesses, including TNA Media, which published the now-defunct The New Age, as well as Shiva Uranium Mine and Sahara Computers.

The family also invested heavily in local real estate, including three mansions based in Saxonwold, Johannesburg.

However, as the pressure of investigations into their involvement in state capture grew, the brothers left South Africa in 2018.

Since then, South Africa has attempted to extradite the brothers after they were arrested in Dubai, but these efforts have been unsuccessful to date.

After the brothers fled the country, many of their business interests were abandoned and are now defunct.

In some cases, this has necessitated business rescue proceedings, including for Confident Concepts, which is linked to the Gupta-owned Oakbay Resources and Energy.

Confident Concepts’ business rescue proceedings led to the auction of the Guptas’ three Saxonwold mansions and all their household assets.

These properties and Saxonwold became infamous largely due to the Guptas, as this is where many ministers and government officials allegedly met with the brothers.

Park Village Auctions recently uploaded an overview of these three mansions and is hosting viewings before the properties go on auction.

The first property is Erf 296 situated at Number 5 Saxonwold Drive in Saxonwold, Johannesburg.

It is the largest property in the lot, at 4,207 m². It is an eight-bedroom mansion with five en-suite bathrooms, four reception rooms, an indoor swimming pool and staff accommodation.

This property’s municipal valuation is R21.73 million, with its monthly rates estimated at R19,186.08, which excludes monthly water and electricity consumption charges.

The second property is Erf 297 situated at Number 7 Saxonwold Drive in Saxonwold, Johannesburg.

It is significantly smaller than the first property at around 1,720 m², and stands at three storeys with hotel-style architecture.

It has 17 en-suite rooms that are fully equipped, with multiple lounges including a cinema, family salon and staff accommodation.

Despite being significantly smaller than the first, this property’s municipal valuation is R36.86 million. Monthly rates on this property are estimated at R29,433.78, excluding water and electricity.

The third property, Erf 295 located at Number 3 Saxonwold Drive, is the second-smallest of the lot at around 3,000 m².

It boasts three bedrooms, a spacious layout, staff accommodation, and a single garage and storeroom. Its municipal valuation is R5.54 million, with monthly rates estimated at R6,304.81, excluding water and electricity.

The auction of these three properties and their household assets will take place on Thursday, 24 July 2025, at 11:00.