By Julia Moyo
The City of Joburg (CoJ) has welcomed a court ruling in the Marble Towers matter, describing it as a victory for law enforcement and public safety in the Joburg CBD.
This comes after the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, ruled on an urgent application brought by the owners of Marble Towers, who were attempting to stop the City from taking enforcement action against the building.According to the court ruling shared by Joburg Mayor Dada Morero, the court found that the structures erected at Marble Towers were unlawful because no approved building plans had been submitted to the City.
The court also ruled that the applicants failed to demonstrate urgency or provide sufficient legal grounds for an interim interdict against the City. Importantly, the court confirmed that the City has the authority to enforce compliance with building regulations and fire safety laws. However, the court also clarified that the City must still follow proper legal procedures before demolishing any structures, in line with the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act.
The applicants were given time to regularise the structures, submit compliant building plans, address fire safety concerns, and secure the site. They were also ordered to pay the City’s legal costs.
The Marble Towers case forms part of the City’s broader effort to address illegal structures, unsafe buildings, unlawful trading, and other by-law violations in the Johannesburg CBD.Mayor Dada Morero previously revealed that Marble Towers allegedly owes the City more than R14 million in unpaid rates, taxes, electricity, and water bills. City officials also raised concerns over illegal structures allegedly blocking fire exits and emergency access routes.
The City argued in court that the structures posed serious safety risks, particularly after Johannesburg experienced deadly inner-city fires in recent years, including the Usindiso building fire in 2023.
Marble Towers is one of Johannesburg’s most recognisable buildings.
The skyscraper, built in 1973, stands 32 storeys tall in the CBD and has long been a landmark on the city skyline. City officials say the ruling strengthens Johannesburg’s efforts to restore order, improve safety, and ensure compliance in the inner city.
