The haunted house of Seatides falls

After standing proud for 90 odd years the haunted house of Seatides took its final bow last Thursday, its absence now a glaring omission on the M4 at Casuarina Beach.

The destruction of what has become a local landmark elicited widespread shock as the news spread after The North Coast Courier broke the story on its website on Thursday afternoon.

Covered in graffiti the house had become a tourist attraction and popular photo shoot venue for weddings and the like.

Dubbed the ‘Ghost House’ by locals the grand building was the first house built in the area in 1962 and boasted lead stained glass windows and doors with pictures of ships, and a Victorian-style bathroom.

It was also the first house at Casuarina Beach to have a phone and electricity.

Its story is a romantic rags to riches tale, with its original owner, Gurusamy Veerasamy Naidu, coming to South Africa from India to find his fortune.

Today the land belongs to his grandson Saantha Naidu, a property tycoon who owns impressive buildings such as the Coastlands hotels and resorts which are part of the Saanta Naidu Group.

Naidu said that he regretted having to let go of the house.

“We had until last Friday to demolish the house, as per a letter I received from the eThekweni Municipality, because it was not safe for people to be around anymore. There was no way of saving the house any longer. The property has been in our family for over 100 years. It was a priceless family treasure,” said Naidu.

He said they are currently looking at potential development ideas for the property, but have not decided on anything yet.

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