BREAKING: South Africa Demolishes Nigerian Developer’s Complexes In Tshwane After Court Rulings
The City of Tshwane has commenced the demolition of an illegally constructed high-rise complexes owned by Nigerian property developer George Asaba, following multiple court rulings that declared the structures unlawful, MDN News reports.
In March, the Gauteng High Court granted the municipality an order to demolish two high-rise complexes on Luttig Street, Pretoria West, after Asaba failed to submit approved building plans. The court described the buildings as unsafe, a health hazard, and in violation of zoning and safety regulations.
Although Asaba lodged an appeal, it was dismissed in April by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, which upheld the city’s right to carry out the demolition.
Reacting to the judgment, the City’s Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi, welcomed the ruling, according to a report by IOL.
She described it as a major victory in Tshwane’s campaign against unauthorised developments and in reclaiming urban spaces from illegal structures.
She said: “This ruling is a turning point in the City’s efforts to reclaim urban spaces from unlawful developments and send a strong message that no one is above the law.”
Morodi warned that illegal buildings, land grabs, and property hijackings have for years undermined service delivery, strained infrastructure, and threatened public safety.
“This multiparty coalition government, through the Bad Buildings Committee, is taking a stand and pushing back against those who think they can bypass the law. Tshwane is not a playground for opportunists who undermine governance for personal gain,” she said.
Following the ruling, the City confirmed that it would proceed with demolitions and continue to identify and remove illegal structures across Tshwane. Morodi encouraged residents to report suspected illegal building activities in their communities.
According to the court ruling, Asaba will be responsible for covering the costs associated with demolishing the buildings.
He was also held in contempt of court for defying a July 16, 2024, order that prohibited him from continuing construction.
In court documents, Asaba admitted that construction began in June 2023 without the City’s approval but argued that his architect had submitted building plans for review. The court, however, found that he had not complied with the July 2024 order, particularly the requirement to submit plans for official approval.
The judgment noted that Asaba blatantly disregarded the court order by proceeding with construction despite clear directives to halt the work.
His attempt to justify his actions by citing a pending rezoning application was dismissed as an insufficient and last-ditch effort to avoid accountability.
