Previously called Ordra Building, the site holds decades of memories, friendships, and a sense of community that time has never erased.

With photos dating back to the early 1940s, Feizul describes how his uncle — whom he calls a visionary — recognised the growing need for housing in the area.  At the time, the neighbourhood was more of a bustling retail hub.  In 1942, the family demolished the old structure and built a modern development for its time — 18 apartments spread over three floors, with retail spaces below.  The corner units were more spacious, and each apartment came with its own kitchen and bathroom.

The basement of the building was a hub of entertainment, filled with billiard tables, music, and laughter.  It was a place where neighbours became family, where stories were shared, and where friendships were built to last a lifetime.

Between 1964 and 1968, a young Feizul played his own role in the family business — collecting rent from the tenants.  At just R36 per apartment and R72 per shop, the cost of living was vastly different, but the sense of belonging was priceless.

Beyond the walls of Ordra, Feizul recalls a childhood filled with simple joys — racing down the street with his siblings and cousins to play soccer and cricket on an open field, now home to Tshwane House.  Sundays were for community tennis matches.  He attended school in Marabastad, paying a single penny for a yellow bus ticket, though he often preferred to walk home, soaking in the energy of the city and prayed at the Queen Street Mosque.

A legacy of shared spaces

Reflecting on the spirit of co-living, Feizul sees a familiar pattern in Yethu City’s modern approach.  “It’s the same as when we lived there,” he says.  Neighbours shared everything, from a cup of sugar to everyday moments of life.  “My mom would send me to ask this auntie for two tomatoes, another for salt, or some fruit because our family were visiting.”  In today’s world, co-living fosters the same sense of community — residents cooking together, doing laundry side by side, and gathering in shared spaces.

“As a family of eight, we all lived in one apartment and made it work.  The new generation of residents will do the same, creating their own stories.”

 A home lost, but never forgotten

Change, however, came.  In time, the government announced plans to expropriate the property under the Group Areas Act. For many, Ordra was more than just a place to live — it was home. The family made the difficult decision to auction it, with Phil Minnaar Auctioneers facilitating the transaction.

“People didn’t want to leave — it was their home,” Feizul reflects.  “Some were fortunate enough to buy land elsewhere, but the nostalgia of Ordra never faded.  The friendships we built there had a value beyond words.”  Even today, whenever former residents reunite, the bond remains.  “We’re like brothers.”

For years, Feizul and his mother would return, parking outside what once was their home, reminiscing about the laughter, the friendships, and the life they had built there.

A new chapter begins

Now, Yethu City rises where Ordra once stood — not as a replacement, but as a continuation of the story.  The modern, tech-driven property invites a new generation to create their own memories, just as Feizul and his family once did.

“The building may have changed, but its purpose remains the same — to be a home. It’s up to the new residents to write the next chapter.”