By Julia Moyo
The owners of the Marble Towers building in the Johannesburg CBD have filed an urgent court interdict in an attempt to stop the City of Johannesburg from demolishing illegal structures around the property.
The legal move follows a large-scale inner-city enforcement operation led by Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero on Monday, 19 May 2026, targeting buildings and areas suspected of being linked to criminal activity, illegal occupation, and by-law violations.
More than 500 officials took part in the operation, including members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Home Affairs officials, and other municipal entities. The operation focused on removing illegal structures such as shacks and containers erected around Marble Towers and within the High Court precinct in the Johannesburg CBD. City officials described the interventions as part of ongoing efforts to restore law and order in the inner city.
JMPD at the Marble Tower. Picture: Supplied
The City of Johannesburg’s legal counsel, Segala Malahlela, confirmed that the Marble Towers owners have approached the High Court seeking an urgent interdict to stop the demolitions. “They don’t want us to demolish and remove the containers and the shacks that are placed in and around Marble Towers and the High Court precinct. And the city is of the view that this illegality and unlawfulness must stop,” said Malahlela.
The city has further alleged that the building is in arrears of approximately R14 million, covering municipal rates, taxes, electricity, and water. Mayor Morero said during the operation that the city is intensifying efforts to reclaim the Johannesburg CBD from criminal activity, illegal trading, and unsafe living conditions.
The demolition drive forms part of broader inner-city enforcement operations aimed at addressing hijacked buildings, illegal connections, and overcrowding in parts of the CBD.
