Gupta brothers’ Saxonwold mansion sold at a big discount

One property and household assets formerly owned by South Africa’s infamous Gupta brothers were recently sold at an auction. However, two mansions were not sold.

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.

This has necessitated business rescue proceedings in some cases, 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.

In June 2025, Park Village Auctions uploaded an overview of these three mansions and hosted viewings before the properties went on auction.

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

Park Village Auctions director Clive Lazarus explained that the six-week build-up of advertising and public viewing of the properties has been a necessary step in the broader asset disposal process. 

The Business Rescue Practitioners (BPRs) sought to provide complete transparency regarding the condition of movable and immovable assets and allow ample time for considered bids.

The sales

Park Village Auctions confirmed that one Gupta-owned property, Number 3 Saxonwold Drive, fetched R3.3 million, subject to confirmation. 

Lazarus said this outcome exceeded expectations and is confident that the BRPs will confirm the offer.

Number 3 Saxonwold Drive was the second-smallest property on the block, at around 3,000 m², and it had a municipal valuation of R5.54 million.

It boasts three bedrooms, a spacious layout, staff accommodation, and a single garage and storeroom. Monthly rates are estimated at R6,304.81, excluding water and electricity.

The remaining two properties, Number 5 and Number 7 Saxonwold Drive, were met with hesitation and did not sell.

“We had a great deal of interest leading up to the auction, but given the complexity and uniqueness of these properties, it’s not unusual for a transaction of this nature to take more time,” Lazarus said. 

“The municipal valuations and subsequent steep rates and taxes (up to R30,000 per month on a residential property) are obvious factors that would hinder the sale by auction.”

He explained that auctions are just one part of a broader sales process, which was necessary for transparency in a matter that holds much public interest. 

He added that the BRPs will likely make the properties available by private tender, leaving buyers a little more room to investigate all potential avenues for their investment and providing more anonymity.

“We will remain in discussions with the interested parties as we progress to the next phase. We are confident that we will realise these properties at realistic market rates,” he said.

While the mansions did not sell at auction, the movable assets of Number 5 fetched R100,000, while the contents of Number 7 closed on a bid of R60,000. Both sales are subject to confirmation.