After nearly a decade of legal and financial turmoil, the infamous Gupta family’s Saxonwold compound in Johannesburg has finally been sold through a private transaction for approximately R34 million in August 2025. The estate, consisting of multiple mansions once home to one of South Africa’s most controversial families, was subjected to auctions earlier in July 2025 but attracted low bids due to its tarnished reputation and state of disrepair. The private sale price represents a significant discount from the combined municipal valuation of about R64 million, reflecting the ongoing stigma associated with the Gupta name and their legacy of alleged corruption during the era of state capture.
Timeline of the Gupta Compound in Saxonwold
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1993: The Gupta family migrated to South Africa from India and subsequently purchased the Saxonwold compound in Johannesburg, establishing it as their family residence and business headquarters.
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1990s-2016: The compound served as the Gupta family home and venue for hosting influential political figures during their rise to power. It became infamous for its association with state capture allegations during former President Jacob Zuma’s administration.
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2016: The Gupta family fled South Africa amid escalating corruption investigations and political scandals. The compound has remained vacant since then.
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2018: The property began to fall into neglect with no maintenance conducted on the estate since that time.
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July 2025: The Gupta compound was put up for auction, with the three properties (two mansions and a staff quarters house) being sold separately. The auctions saw very low bids compared to municipal valuations, reflecting the stigma around the estate and its neglected condition.
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August 2025: After limited success at auction, the Business Rescue Practitioners for the Gupta estate accepted a private sale offer of approximately R34 million for the entire compound, a significant discount compared to the combined municipal valuation of about R64 million.
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August 12, 2025: It was publicly confirmed that the Gupta Compound had been sold through this private sale for around R34 million, marking the conclusion of years of legal and financial proceedings related to the estate.
The Gupta family originally purchased the Saxonwold compound after migrating to South Africa in 1993, using it as their residence and a hub for their extensive business empire until they fled the country in 2016 amid mounting corruption investigations. Since leaving South Africa, the family has been reported to reside mainly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with sightings also reported in Switzerland and Vanuatu. In recent years, their attempts to avoid extradition and ongoing legal scrutiny have kept them away from South Africa, where they remain deeply implicated in one of the country’s largest political and financial scandals.
The sale of the Saxonwold compound marks the end of a long chapter in South Africa’s fight against corruption linked to the Gupta family. Despite the significant discount on the property, the transaction closes a chapter of business rescue proceedings and asset auctions stemming from years of legal battles and investigations into illicit financial activities tied to the family.
