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A house worth millions of rand stands empty in a quiet Nelson Mandela Bay upmarket suburb, abandoned 11 years ago when its owners mysteriously upped and left for Europe.
Inside the garage are four luxury vehicles — three Rolls Royces and a Lotus, worth more than R2m combined.
In the overgrown garden there is even a semi-built castle, including a moat.
Yet no-one has shown up to claim the property in more than a decade. These days it is only ever occupied by vagrants, drug addicts and thieves.
The exact location of the Gqeberha property is being kept secret so as not to attract criminals and further perpetuate unlawful activity.
Inside the home, worth an estimated R2.5m, there are empty beer bottles and recent editions of newspapers.
Photographs supplied to Weekend Post show large quantities of wooden furniture and old magazines, dusty family albums and tattered books littering the rooms.
Two rear-projection TVs have been stripped, while couches are upended in the living room. Some groceries, including spices, remain stocked in the kitchen cupboards.
When Werner Braun and his family left the country more than a decade ago, the cupboards were filled with crystal glasses, pots and pans, electronic equipment and more.
But now, items are being removed piece by piece.
Of course the biggest question on the minds of people who live on that street is, “Where is Werner Braun?”
A German national, he and Marianna Potgieter own the property through a trust. They previously ran a restaurant in Walmer.
“One day they were living in this house and the next day they were gone,” a local resident said.
Another said: “They left in such a rush. They were just gone. They left this house with all their clothing and furniture inside.”
It is believed they relocated to Germany. However, the reason for their sudden departure is unknown.
“Why just up and leave everything you own in your house? It just does not make sense,” a third resident said.
When a Weekend Post team visited the property this week, a municipal bill from June that had been torn open and was found near the front gate.
It showed that the trustees — Braun and Potgieter — owed more than R355,000 to the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality for rates and services.
The photographs sent to Weekend Post also show that light fittings have been pulled out, windows are smashed, and doors have been broken.
Pornographic images, videos and books can be seen in the dining room, main bedroom, and en suite bathroom.
The garden resembles a jungle. Thick roots have grown across the paving and walls, and plants have filled the swimming pool.
Braun and Potgieter opened Elli’s pub and restaurant on the corner of Heugh Road and Eighth Avenue, Walmer, in 2008.
They were featured in Weekend Post shortly after the opening.
Braun was also the former director of two companies — Eissmann Automotive SA and Eissmann Holding — that had registered business addresses in Gqeberha.
A year before he vanished, Braun featured in an article published by Engineering News.
He was interviewed about the two companies, which produced a range of leather products for the automotive industry. These included door panels, gearshift levers and gear knobs, handbrakes, armrests and gearshift labels.
Braun told the reporter at the time that he felt positive about the venture and what the future held for the firm as there were some exciting new projects on the horizon.
“We face a major challenge in managing our rapid expansion, but good management, creating the right spirit and encouragement will overcome the problem,” he was quoted as saying.
The only relative Weekend Post was able to be trace was Potgieter’s brother, Eugene.
However, he was not forthcoming.
Asked for a telephone number for his sister or Braun, he said: “The neighbours must give you the contact info.”
Pushed about the state of the house and neighbours’ concerns about criminals, he promised to try to fix up the property.
“I will try to fix the house and stay there,” he said, early on Tuesday morning.
He then asked to be called after 6pm as he was at work.
When contacted later that day, Potgieter said: “Continue with the story. I have nothing to say. Sorry, bru.”
Police spokesperson Col Priscilla Naidu said officers had visited the property on Thursday.
“The house is in a derelict condition and appears to be vandalised,” she said.
Naidu said a member of Potgieter’s family had been interviewed by the police.
“We were informed that the entire family had moved to Germany in 2011.
“Contact with family ceased many years ago. The family member said they will attempt to trace Braun and his family.
Naidu said it appeared to be a civil matter.
“It should be sorted out by the owner and the trustees,” she said.
But people living on the street are asking when this will happen.
“People come and go. Some look like drug addicts. The house is really open to anyone wanting to get inside,” said the resident, who recalled how all the couple’s clothing and furniture had been left behind.
She said the issue had been reported to ward 3 councillor David Hayselden, but not much had been done.
When contacted, Hayselden said metro police and municipal human settlements officials had been to the property.
“I feel sorry for the residents, but I have done as much as I can. The case has been sitting with the city’s legal department for some time now.”
He said the owners had clearly absconded and were living in Germany.
“They owe a lot of money to the metro. We can’t let this carry on. The property should be expropriated and auctioned off. That would be a win-win for everyone.”
HeraldLIVE
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