Satyagraha House is one of Johannesburg's iconic heritage venues. Back in 2009, before its transformation into a museum and guest house, it belonged to the Ball family who after almost thirty years of ownership decided to put it on the market. In the article below, Lucille Davie highlights Gandhi's connection to Johannesburg and the house. She also reveals some of the Ball family's memories and their feelings leading up to the sale. The article was originally published on the City of Johannesburg's website on 7 August 2009. Click here to view more of Davie's work.
Mahatma Gandhi lived in several locations in Johannesburg 100 years ago. One of those houses, in Orchards, is now on sale.
The house, at 15 Pine Road, is owned by Nancy and Jarod Ball. They have lived in the house for the past 28 years, and have raised their three children in it. Now it’s time to move on. They are planning to move to Cape Town, and are sad to be leaving the house behind.
”I wish we could pick the house up and take it with us,” says Nancy Ball.
It’s easy to see why. The 101-year-old, three-bedroomed home, with its beautiful garden and cottage, is a delight. Its wooden floors, large wooden French doors, thatched roof, cosy fireplaces and tall, pure-white walls are perfectly complemented by the Balls’ oak cottage furniture, making it homely and comfortable. And although only a few blocks from the busy Louis Botha Avenue, the house is quiet and exudes a much-loved...
