Joburg presses ahead with Marble Towers demolition after alleged court order breach

The City of Johannesburg has pressed ahead with the demolition of illegal trading structures at Marble Towers, saying it had exhausted every legal avenue before acting against traders and the building owner, who allegedly continued operating in defiance of a court order.

City officials say Wednesday’s operation follows months of inspections, enforcement notices and legal proceedings after the building was declared unsafe and non-compliant with municipal by-laws. They allege the building owner owes more than R14 million in municipal debt and has paid only about R400,000, prompting the City to enforce the court order.

According to the City, traders and the building owner were prohibited from operating from the basement until the outstanding debt was settled and compliance requirements were met.

However, during an inspection last week, Executive Mayor Dada Morero, and municipal officials found businesses still operating from the premises.

MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Jack Sekwaila, said the City could have carried out the demolition two months ago but instead allowed the legal process to unfold after traders approached the courts.

Sekwaila said officials again warned traders a day before the operation to remove their stock, but many fled before demolition teams arrived.

As heavy machinery moved in to dismantle the illegally erected trading structures, some traders rushed to salvage their goods, while a brief confrontation broke out between law enforcement officers and several shop owners before the situation was brought under control.

The City says traders will still be allowed to retrieve their remaining goods under strict supervision. Officials say Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officers and private security personnel will escort traders into the building one shop at a time to prevent looting while the demolition continues.

The City says the operation will continue until all illegal structures have been removed and the court order has been fully enforced.

WATCH: CoJ demolish illegal erected shops at Marble Towers following a violation of a court order by traders.

Some shop owners can be seen hiding and taking out their stocks. #YNews pic.twitter.com/DZBquBiLQZ

— Ndashe (@ndasheii) July 15, 2026

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe