Property

Historic house linked to the Gupta brothers set to be destroyed

Bianke Neethling • 22 June 2026

A property linked to the infamous Gupta brothers is set to be demolished. This comes after several Gupta-linked properties went on auction in July 2025 and were sold at a significant discount.

This was revealed by property expert Ash Muller, who explained that the property slated for demolition, 3 Saxonwold Drive, is considered a heritage property.

Located in Saxonwold, a Johannesburg suburb founded in 1925, the property is protected under the National Heritage Resources Act because it is more than 60 years old.

This means a very specific process needs to be followed for the 256 m² property to be demolished.

According to Muller, a demolition notice must be filed, and those who oppose the demolition are given the opportunity to object. She said the deadline for public comment on the demolition is 17 July.

The demolition notice for 3 Saxonwold Drive was filed by Confident Concept, a Gupta-linked company that owned this and other properties formerly owned by the Gupta family.

The Gupta brothers, Atul and Rajesh, had close ties to former President Jacob Zuma and his administration, and investigations into their involvement in South Africa’s state capture era 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.

Another Gupta-linked company is Confident Concept, which, according to Muller, has racked up more than R726,000 in unpaid rates and taxes to the City of Johannesburg.

This company is also going through business rescue proceedings, which is how some of the properties it owned have been put up for sale or slated for demolition.

In July 2025, Confident Concept’s business rescue proceedings led to the auction of the Guptas’ three Saxonwold properties and all their household assets.

The public auction took place on Thursday, 24 July, which Park Village Auctions said attracted several bidders and spectators.

At this auction, 3 Saxonwold Drive was sold, while the other two properties were sold privately afterwards.

The three properties and their assets fetched a total of R34.5 million, significantly less than the estimated R64 million the lot was valued at pre-auction.

However, according to Muller, “the properties were back on the market pretty quickly” after they were sold, with 3 Saxonwold Drive currently listed as under offer at R4 million.

“According to the development notice, the existing house and outbuildings are being demolished to make way for a brand-new house, a cottage, and staff accommodation,” she said.