A tale of two houses

IOL News

16-05-2025

This is what 69 Wills Road looked like 1994.
Image: Brian Kearney
THE old Durban City Council used to recognise owners - both public and private - who restored and preserved buildings of historic and architectural importance. Each year from 1986 until about 2000 when it petered out, the Council honoured those owners with a brass Conservation Award for bringing an ailing building back to life. Today, ironically, numerous buildings belonging to eThekwini are now ailing through neglect.
In 1994, one of the 13 winners was the home of Nesan and Suren Pather at 69 Wills Road, near Warwick Triangle. Described as a 'charming Union period house which has been lovingly preserved,' the Heritage Green and terracotta colour scheme has been chosen by Nesan Pather.
A delighted Nesan Pather as photographed in the Daily News, 4 November 1994.
Image: Supplied
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The first owner of the house was probably Mr T. Oxley, as assistant linesman with the Durban Corporation, but the Pather family has owned the property since at least the 1940s. As one exited the City and travelled past Warwick Triangle towards Tollgate Bridge, the house could be seen on the left. But then something happened.
Today all that remains of 69 Wills Road are the gate posts.
Image: Mark Levin
In the early 2000s, the house was visibly deteriorating with signs of vandalism until pats of it collapsed after it was stripped. By 2009, nothing remained. Today the site is strewn with litter. From what could be gleaned, old Mrs Pather died as did the daughter. Another daughter left after she married, while Nesan's life took a downturn and he died too.With the decline of Wills Road, the Pather family seems to have vacated the house, providing an opportunity for vagrants and vandals.
Playing soccer outside 39 Wills Road in the 1980s.
Image: Supplied
As the last walls of 69 Wills Road crumbled, a different future was about to begin just down the road at no.39. In that same year of 2009, Rahim Shaik bought the late Victorian house against all advice. 'Why invest in such a degraded area?' he was asked but Shaik believed it could sink any lower. He began the slow process of restoring the neglected house; two years later he and his wife were able to open the Hip Hop Kids Playcentre.
39 Wills Road is today the street's best preserved house.
Image: Mark Levin
Restoration of the property is ongoing as is often necessary with older properties. The house was believed to be Edwardian, but Shaik produced a copy of the plans for the house from the bottom of a suitcase, revealing that it dated to the 1890s. It was one of the first houses to be built in Wills Road.
The Edwardian home at 40 Wills Road is today derelict. Its residents included the Hardouin, Azor, Docrat and Coovadia families.
Image: Mark Levin
There may have been a degree of sentimentality behind Shaik's purchase of his house. He had grown up in Wills Road, next door in fact to the Pather's home. Vinay Court was built in 1949 on the site of an earlier single residence at 71 Wills Road. having spent his boyhood at Vinay Court, Shaik has witnessed the many changes to the area.
The forlorn state of Vinay Court today.
Image: Mark Levin
What is striking is that from the 1930s, White and Indian families had lived harmoniously in Wills Road until the Group Areas Act forced most Indian families to leave. Some, like the Pathers, managed to hold onto their properties; Shaiks mother refused to move from Vinay Court. The Council bought some of the houses, but today they have either been demolished or, like no. 40 are in an appalling state of decay.
Student accommodation being erected on the corner of Wills and Lutman roads.
Image: Mark Levin
The Group Areas Act destroyed this cohesive community which has never recovered. Shaik believes that the Council still owns 16 properties in the Warwick area, which have compounded the decline. There are signs of revival.
A Bentley Road cottage has been converted into student accommodation.
Image: Mark Levin
In Syringa and Bentley roads (which lead off Wills), there are blocks being built for student accommodation as well as a house converted for that purpose. This will bring greater security, but also rowdy, partying students. As Shaik observes, it is one step forward and one step backwards.
The Driving School opposite Vinay Court in Wills Road.
Image: Mark Levin
Wills Road today is a far cry from its semi-rural quality when the Wills family lived there in the 19th century. Taxis are washed while their owners or drivers wait for the rush hour. Opposite Vinay Court, is a busy driving school. Caught up in legal issues, Vinay Court has now become a 'problem building.'
Washing a taxi on the corner of Wills and Hampson roads.
Image: Mark Levin
Taxis parked along Wills Road.
Image: Mark Levin
Few Tribune readers would have or are likely to venture into this part of Durban. Yet on two visits only once, while about to leave, did the writer feel vulnerable. As numbers 69 and 39 illustrate, Wills Road has experienced both loss and hope.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE