Published by Cyril | 29th August
Authorities in the City of Tshwane, South Africa, have commenced the demolition of two high-rise complexes owned by Nigerian property developer George Asaba, after multiple court rulings declared the structures unlawful.
The move follows a March ruling by the Gauteng High Court, which ordered the demolition of the buildings located on Luttig Street, Pretoria West. The court ruled that Asaba failed to submit approved building plans, describing the complexes as unsafe, a health hazard, and a violation of zoning and safety regulations.
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Asaba’s appeal was dismissed in April, with the court affirming the municipality’s right to proceed. He was also held in contempt of court for ignoring a July 16, 2024, order halting construction.
City officials confirmed that Asaba will bear the full cost of the demolition.
Kholofelo Morodi, Tshwane’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Corporate and Shared Services, praised the ruling as a decisive step in the city’s fight against illegal developments.
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- “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 stated.
She added that illegal buildings, land grabs, and property hijackings had long undermined service delivery and public safety, stressing that the city’s coalition government would intensify crackdowns on offenders.
Court documents revealed that Asaba admitted to starting construction in June 2023 without approval, but claimed his architect had submitted plans. Judges dismissed the defense, ruling that he had deliberately flouted court directives and attempted to use a pending rezoning application as a last-minute excuse.
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