By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Johannesburg high court has dismissed an urgent application brought by the owners of Marble Towers building to stop the city from demolishing illegal and unsafe structures erected within the building.
This comes as the city has intensified its efforts to demolish illegal structures in the inner city as part of a broader law enforcement and service delivery operation.
The operation began at Marble Towers, one of the city’s tallest buildings, where several bylaw violations were identified.
City mayor Dada Morero said the building owed the city millions in unpaid municipal services.
“We have established that the building owes us R14 million in water, electricity, rates and taxes. So, we are acting. We have already cut off the water meter and are also disconnecting electricity to force the building to comply and pay,” he said.
Morero also raised concerns about ongoing non-compliance with building regulations.
“Over and above that are issues around compliance and building regulations. On our assessment, we have confirmed that structures built there are illegal. However, the owners were able to approach the court and the judge requested that we give them an opportunity to present their case,” he said.
The court ruled that the developers had failed to establish urgency and noted that the property developments lacked approved building plans, making them entirely non-compliant with City regulations.
Judge Leicester Adams ruled that courts cannot protect illegal activity, especially where public safety is a concern.
But he also warned that the city cannot simply demolish buildings without following due legal process.
Instead, Adams issued a structured order requiring the property owner to stop construction, secure unsafe structures, and submit proper building plans within 20 days.
If the owner fails to comply, the city may then take lawful enforcement action.
To resolve the impasse, Adams has directed both parties to enter a mandatory mediation process within 20 days.
The sessions will be led by a mutually agreed mediator, or one appointed by the Johannesburg Society of Advocates should the parties fail to reach an agreement.
The applicant has also been ordered to pay legal costs.
Meanwhile Deputy mayor and MMC for Finance Loyiso Masuku tabled the city’s R97 billion budget, for 2026/27 in the metro’s council chambers on Wednesday, up from R89 billion in the previous year.
Describing the city’s revenue base as being under pressure, Masuku admitted tighter controls are needed to ensure efficient revenue collection, warning that without this, the city will remain in a precarious financial position.
The projected revenue collection rate has been adjusted from 88.6% to 86%, in line with historical performance.
Masuku said reforms at City Power are underway to ensure the entity’s recovery by way of infrastructure investment to rehabilitate the distribution network, revenue enhancement and billing accuracy, and loss reduction through smart metering.