One of the key companies in the Guptas' crumbling business empire, Sahara Computers, has quietly closed down.

The controversial family and their associates are now trying to sell Sahara's premises for R50-million.

Sahara Computers and two of its sister companies in the IT sector – Annex Distribution and Sahara Systems – closed down several months ago, apparently without drawing much attention.

News24 on Friday gained access to Sahara Computers' abandoned premises in Midrand, Johannesburg. Sahara Systems was also housed in the same building.

On the market for R50m

An estate agent from the estate agency whose sign is posted outside the building said that the property was in the market for R50-million. Alternatively, the 6 500 square metre property could be leased for about R390 000 a month.

The property is owned by Islandsite Investments 180, the same property holding company that owns the Guptas' sprawling residential assets in the plush Johannesburg neighbourhood of Saxonwold.

Islandsite's two remaining directors are Ashu Chawla and Ronica Ragavan, according to company records. Atul and Tony Gupta and their respective wives, Arti and Chetali, had resigned as directors in 2016.