Owners win interim interdict; Marble Towers demolition paused ahead of court hearing

Owners of structures at Marble Towers have secured an interim interdict that has temporarily stopped municipal demolition work, the city said on 16 July 2026. Municipal officials and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) began tearing down structures the previous day but halted operations after being notified of the court order.

Demolition stopped pending court outcome

The Johannesburg High Court will hear arguments on 16 July about whether demolition may continue. Officials and JMPD were ready to resume work once the court ruled, but the operation was left incomplete while the municipality awaited the hearing.

Background of the order

Marble Towers, formerly the Sanlam Centre and now owned by Goldenrod Group, had been ordered to shut sections of the building until it could prove compliance. Goldenrod were given 20 days on 28 May to rectify the building’s compliance faults and was ordered to shutter the affected areas.

The interim order sets out measures for the applicant, including:

“The applicant shall, within 72 hours of this order, cordon off and/or seal all structures identified by the city as non-compliant.
Structures on the applicant’s property shall remain cordoned off and secured, and no use or occupation of non-compliant structures shall occur pending compliance with this order and/or the approval of building plans and regulatory requirements,”

What happened on site

City officials and JMPD began dismantling brick and iron structures, but work stopped after traders were found still operating from the structures and the interim order was served. Excavators were on scene to tear down structures, but the work was left incomplete as the municipality waited for the court ruling.

City response and wider context

Mayor Dada Morero said the conditions of the original order had not been met, with JMPD finding traders continuing to operate from the illegal structures. He said:

“The city will be in court and will respect the legal process, as we always do. Our broader work to restore a safe, dignified and lawful inner city for the people of Johannesburg continues.”

Morero linked the Marble Towers operation to a broader high-impact service delivery drive in the Johannesburg CBD and raised concerns about immigration, criminality and public safety. He said ongoing operations had revealed that

“a significant number of buildings and businesses are allegedly harbouring undocumented foreign nationals.”

He called for collaboration between law enforcement and other agencies, saying:

“We are calling for a collaborative operation involving the Department of Home Affairs, South African Police Service, JMPD and other law enforcement agencies to verify the legal status of occupants, enforce the law, and restore order. Johannesburg cannot allow lawlessness to undermine the safety and well-being of residents.”

Next steps

The municipal demolition team has paused activity pending the court’s decision on 16 July. The city and JMPD stated they would respect the legal process and were prepared to resume the operation if the court allows.