“Break It All Off”: Couple Shows Off an Abandoned House They Bought to Renovate in KZN, SA Stunned

“Break It All Off”: Couple Shows Off an Abandoned House They Bought to Renovate in KZN, SA Stunned

  • A young couple shared a tour of the dilapidated half-acre property they purchased due to financial constraints
  • The property features two rundown structures, including a rondavel filled with clutter and an overwhelming stench
  • South Africans flooded the comments with questions and advice about the couple's bold renovation plans
Online users were left stunned by the sheer amount of work needed on this couple's new fixer-upper project
A local couple decided to buy an abandoned, overgrown property to turn it into their dream home. Image: @drowzydrewzie
Source: Instagram

A young couple has gone viral after giving the internet a raw, unfiltered look at the abandoned property they bought in KwaZulu-Natal, and plan to renovate it into their dream home. TikTok user @drowzydrewzie posted the video on 31 August 2026, and it quickly caught fire online.

In what the couple called a "speed tour," they walked viewers through a half-acre plot that had clearly been left to nature for some time. The overgrown yard was strewn with rubbish, and the property itself held two structures: a rundown main cabin cluttered with debris, and a round rondavel that came with its own challenge — a powerful stench of dog urine that hit the moment you stepped inside.

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A bold bet on a neglected plot

Despite the scale of the work ahead, the couple appeared upbeat and determined throughout the tour. They bought the property within their budget, accepting its condition as the trade-off for getting onto the property ladder. Many viewers picked up on this, noting that the location was likely the real drawcard behind the purchase.

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Watch the couple's speed tour of their abandoned KZN property in the TikTok video below:

Mzansi Weighs In on the Renovation Plans

The video struck a chord with South Africans who recognised the ambition it takes to take on a project like this, particularly in a tough economic climate. Commenters were quick to weigh in with both encouragement and practical advice.

@T Zombie noted:

"The address/neighbourhood must have great potential."

@ratz85 advised:

"Best to throw everything down and build from scratch."

@NicoNax cheered:

"Coming along for the ride. Cannot wait for the final reveal 🙌🙏"

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@RaisingTheBar asked:

"How did you find this kind of place for sale? Was it online?"

@Que Rossi offered a detailed tip:

"Break it all off. Build a double garage and live in that while you build a good house. You will have to do many structural issues; that will cost you more in the long run."

@Taz_Law added:

"Are you going to live on the property when redoing it all. Best of luck 😳."

3 Briefly News articles about home renovations

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Bongiwe Mati avatar

Bongiwe Mati (Human Interest Editor) Bongiwe Mati is a Human Interest reporter who joined Briefly News in August 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree from the University of the Western Cape. Her journalism journey began in 2005 at the university newspaper. She later transitioned to marketing and sales at Leadership Magazine under Cape Media (2007-2009). In 2023, she joined BONA magazine as an Editorial Assistant, contributing to digital and print platforms across current news, entertainment, and human interest categories. Bongiwe can be reached at bongiwe.mati@briefly.co.za