Durban: A house in a peaceful Johannesburg suburb, where Mahatma Gandhi had lived for over a year while he was in South Africa, has attracted a large number of potential buyers from all over the world, including India.
When American artist Nancy Ball first advertised the sale
of `The Kraal`, there was little response even from the
Indian-origin community here, but since the word about the
Gandhi legacy spread through the media, everything has
changed.
"It`s been phenomenal. The inquiries I have received have
not stopped," she told agency. "I am so delighted I cannot
contain myself.
"Ever since it became known that Mahatma Gandhi had once
stayed at the house, I have received calls from all over South
Africa and the world, including India," Ball said, adding she
had also received inquiries from the Indian High Commission in
Pretoria.
Situated at No 15 Pine Road in the peaceful and tranquil
suburb of Orchards in Johannesburg, the thatched-roof
rondavel-style house was designed by Gandhi`s confidant and
architect Hermann Kallenbach.
Gandhi lived in this house between 1908 and 1909 while
practising as an advocate and fighting racial discrimination
in South Africa.
Over the decades the ownership of the house passed
through numerous followers of Gandhi until 1981, when it was
purchased by Ball. Now 28 years later, Nancy Ball wants to
retire to Cape Town for family reasons.
She said with all the inquiries being made they were
hopeful to sell the house within the next few weeks. She did
not want to disclose the amount of money they want but it
is understood that the asking price is more than USD 250,000.
If they sell the house for more than what they initially
wanted, they would donate some money to charity. "It`s not
about the money. We want to ensure that the house is sold to
someone who will preserve the legacy of Gandhi," Ball said.
"We have lived in the house for 28 years and now we are
forced to give it up because we want to move to Cape Town for
family reasons. My husband has been asked by his company to
move on a transfer to Cape Town and my two children live
there," Ball said.
"We will be very sad to leave because this is a very
special place. For me and my family it has also been very
spiritual. Mahatma Gandhi`s spirit lives in this house," she
said.
Various improvements had been made to the house over the
years but its original structure had not been disturbed in any
way. "The gardens are very beautiful with lots of flowers and
trees. It is really something special," Ball said.
One of the people who has shown interest in purchasing
the house is Kitty Menon, a great grand-daughter of Gandhi.
"I have held a meeting with Mrs Ball on Wednesday to make
inquiries about the sale of the house. It is something that
should be preserved. It is an important part of our heritage,"
Menon told agency.
The house is just one of several Gandhi sites that have
been identified by the Government of South Africa as
historical places in the Johannesburg area.
The others are the Gandhi Square in central Johannesburg
where Gandhi had his law office; a Gandhi house in the suburb
of Troyville in Johannesburg; the Johannesburg Jail in
Constitution Hill where Gandhi was once imprisoned; Victory
House in central Johannesburg where he used to meet his
passive resistence activists; the Hindu crematorium in
Troyville established by Gandhi; and Tolstoy Farm, just
outside Johannesburg where Gandhi and his passive resisters
used to stay.
Bureau Report
