The red wall that sparked outrage, laughter, school run detours and a couple of snack drops is no longer a mystery…
Johannesburg, South Africa (28 July 2025) – When we first reported on the infamous Red Wall in Bryanston, we had our suspicions. As much as we loved the wild theories, from football fan feuds to political shade, we always knew, deep down, it would probably come back to property developers.
But here’s the thing… we didn’t care. Because this campaign did something rare. It made us feel something.
And now, the mystery is officially solved.
Craft Homes has just revealed that they are the brand behind the Red Wall, putting an end to weeks of speculation, memes, hot sauce, free snacks and even a blood drive. The residential property developer has confirmed what many had begun to guess, but they’ve done so with grace, humour and heart. According to a press release from the company released today, the wall has reached more than 100,000 people organically, pulled in nearly 6,000 entries from people trying to guess who was behind the campaign, and sparked thousands of conversations online and off. It even got a shoutout on Jacaranda FM (and Good Things Guy).
Let that sink in.
A wall made people talk.
If you missed the entire saga, the Red Wall campaign began quietly at the start of July, just a coat of unmissable red paint on the corner of Grosvenor and Bryanston Drive. But it didn’t stay quiet for long. The wall quickly became a canvas for community commentary, passive-aggressive signage (“Please stop calling the cops, Karen”), brand hijacks (Tabasco and SPAR, we see you), and even a site for social good, thanks to a successful community blood drive in partnership with the SA National Blood Service.
On the day of the blood drive, 123 people donated. That’s potentially 369 lives saved. Not bad for a wall that initially had people absolutely fuming.
Reinier van Loggerenberg, CEO of Craft Homes, explained their approach, “The response has been incredible. Not just the numbers – although reaching over 100,000 people with thousands engaging directly is extraordinary – but the emotion. We saw curiosity, laughter, frustration, excitement. We saw people talking to one another. We saw parents bringing their kids to see the latest update on the wall. That level of engagement is rare, and it’s what we set out to create.”
Craft Homes says the campaign wasn’t just about building awareness, it was about building connection. Using storytelling, mystery, and community engagement, they introduced themselves as the developers behind the upcoming Bryanston Country Estate, but also as people who listen, laugh and create alongside the very communities they’re entering.
“We wanted people to feel something,” van Loggerenberg continued. “To build anticipation and talkability and then use that energy to launch something meaningful. Bryanston Country Estate is coming, but more than that, we wanted people to know who is building it.”
At Good Things Guy, we’ve followed the saga from the first red coat to the last snack drop, and what we’ve loved most is how the wall transformed from “horrendous eyesore” to neighbourhood celebrity. It created space for other brands to jump in, for communities to gather, and for social media to actually feel fun again. It reminded us that creativity still matters, and that a bit of boldness can go a long way.
As Craft Homes perfectly put it, “If we can create this much talk with just a wall, imagine what we can do with a neighbourhood.”
Well played. We’re watching.
*This is not a sponsored post. The Good Things Guy has no affiliation with the company or brand that launched this campaign.
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