Lower Houghton, once an exclusive Johannesburg suburb, shows early signs of structural decline with around 50 neglected properties out of 3,000 homes. Residents and officials cite absentee ownership, poor service delivery and delayed planning as key factors. The Lower Houghton Residents Association now performs basic municipal tasks to prevent further decay.
Lower Houghton was established in 1904 as a prestigious area for mining magnates. It later became home to Nelson Mandela, whose four associated properties now reflect mixed fortunes. Some remain stable while others, including the 12th Avenue house where he spent his final years, show overgrowth and neglect linked to family trust issues.
Amanda Fleming, chairperson of the Lower Houghton Residents Association, said a handful of residents now fund private gardeners and rubbish removal to protect the area. She warned that objections to dense developments stall approvals for years, allowing properties to deteriorate further and attract vagrancy.
Ward 73 councillor Eleanor Huggett criticised the City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Property Company for allowing heritage sites such as Bleloch House to fall into disrepair. She said the new nodal spatial review encourages densification yet lacks enforcement, creating gaps where decline sets in. Residents also monitor the impact of the planned Thabo Mbeki Presidential Centre on local infrastructure.