The High Court dismissed an urgent application by the owners of Marble Towers to stop the demolition of illegal structures on May 28, 2026 [1].
This ruling removes a significant legal barrier for the city of Johannesburg, allowing authorities to proceed with the removal of buildings deemed unsafe for public habitation. The decision signals a strict judicial stance against unauthorized construction in the city's urban center.
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero said the ruling allows the city to move forward with the demolition of the illegal and unsafe structures located at the Marble Towers site [1, 2].
The court found that the application filed by the building owners lacked both legal merit and the necessary urgency to justify an interdict [1]. According to the court, the structures in question were unlawful and posed a risk to safety [1, 2].
City officials have maintained that the demolition is necessary to address the presence of illegal construction that violates safety codes. The legal challenge by the owners was an attempt to halt the process, but the court determined the structures remained unlawful [1].
Mayor Morero said the city would proceed with the planned actions to ensure the area is safe. The demolition process will now target those specific structures that the court has refused to protect through the dismissed interdict [2].
“The High Court dismissed an urgent application by the owners of Marble Towers to stop the demolition of illegal structures.”
The dismissal of the interdict reflects a judicial priority for public safety over private property claims when structures are deemed illegal. By ruling that the owners' application lacked merit, the court has effectively streamlined the city's ability to enforce building codes and remove hazardous architecture without further immediate legal delays.
