Fono and Another v Port St Johns Municipality (1271/2022) [2024] ZASCA 161 (22 November 2024)

75 Reportability
Administrative Law

Brief Summary

Constitutional and Administrative Law — Building Regulations — Construction without approval — Appellant commenced construction of a building on property without approved plans, claiming reliance on traditional authority's permission — Municipality sought interdict and demolition order, asserting violations of the Building Standards Act and the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) — Full court found initial dismissal of the municipality's application erroneous, declaring the construction unlawful — Appeal court held that while the Building Standards Act applies, the municipality failed to promulgate necessary by-laws, and thus ordered the appellant to comply with SPLUMA requirements instead of demolition, allowing for remedial measures.

Comprehensive Summary

Case Note


Fono and Another v Port St Johns Municipality (1271/2022) [2024] ZASCA 161 (22 November 2024)


Reportability


This case is reportable due to its implications on the interpretation of the Building Standards Act and the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) in the context of land use and construction in areas previously designated as homelands in South Africa. The judgment addresses the constitutionality of the application of these laws in the former Transkei region, highlighting the need for clarity in municipal by-laws and the responsibilities of local authorities in enforcing compliance.


Cases Cited



  • Lester v Ndlambe Municipality and Another [2013] ZASCA 95; [2014] 1 All SA 402 (SCA); 2015 (6) SA 283 (SCA)

  • Walele v City of Cape Town Others [2008] ZACC 11; 2008 (6) SA 129 (CC); 2008 (11) BCLR 1067 (CC)

  • Herbert N.O. and Others v Senqu Municipality and Others [2019] ZACC 31; 2019 (11) BCLR 1343 (CC); 2019 (6) SA 231 (CC)

  • Kaknis v Absa Bank Limited, Kaknis v Man Financial Services SA (Pty) Ltd and Another [2016] ZASCA 206; [2017] 2 All SA 1 (SCA); 2017 (4) SA 17 (SCA)


Legislation Cited



  • National Building Regulations and Standards Act 103 of 1977

  • Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013

  • Justice Laws Rationalisation Act 18 of 1996

  • Restitution of Land Rights Act 22 of 1994


Rules of Court Cited



  • None specified in the judgment.


HEADNOTE


Summary


The Supreme Court of Appeal addressed the legality of construction undertaken by Mr. Luxolo Fono without the necessary approvals from the Port St Johns Municipality. The court found that the Building Standards Act applies to the property in question, despite arguments to the contrary based on its historical context. The court also emphasized the need for compliance with SPLUMA, ultimately allowing Mr. Fono an opportunity to rectify his non-compliance rather than ordering demolition.


Key Issues


The key legal issues included the applicability of the Building Standards Act in the former Transkei, the interpretation of SPLUMA regarding land use management, and the discretion of the court in granting demolition orders versus allowing remedial measures.


Held


The court upheld the appeal in part, declaring the construction unlawful but allowing Mr. Fono to comply with the necessary requirements for building plans instead of ordering demolition. Each party was ordered to bear their own costs.


THE FACTS


The case arose from Mr. Luxolo Fono's construction of a tourist facility on land belonging to the Caguba Community in Port St Johns without approved building plans. The Port St Johns Municipality intervened after discovering the construction, which was deemed unlawful under municipal by-laws and the Building Standards Act. Mr. Fono contended that he had permission from the tribal authority and was unaware of the need for municipal approval. The municipality sought an urgent interdict to halt construction and compel demolition.


THE ISSUES


The court had to decide whether the Building Standards Act applied to the property in question, whether Mr. Fono had contravened SPLUMA, and whether the court should order demolition or allow for compliance with the relevant laws.


ANALYSIS


The court analyzed the applicability of the Building Standards Act, concluding that it does apply to the former Transkei despite historical exclusions. It emphasized the need for equal protection under the law and the importance of compliance with SPLUMA. The court also noted the municipality's failure to promulgate necessary by-laws, which complicated the enforcement of compliance.


REMEDY


The court ordered that Mr. Fono's construction was unlawful and interdicts him from continuing without complying with SPLUMA. However, it allowed him to submit the required building plans within 30 days and comply with them within three months, rather than ordering immediate demolition.


LEGAL PRINCIPLES


The judgment established that the Building Standards Act applies to properties in the former Transkei, reinforcing the need for compliance with municipal regulations and SPLUMA. It also highlighted the court's discretion to issue remedial measures rather than strict demolition orders, emphasizing a balanced approach to land use management in historically disadvantaged areas.

SAFLII Note: Certain personal/private details of parties or witnesses have been redacted from this document
in compliance with the law and SAFLII Policy

THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEAL OF SOUTH AFRICA
JUDGMENT

Reportable
Case no: 1271/2022

In the matter between:

LUXOLO FONO FIRST APPELLANT

CAGUBA TRIBAL AUTHORITY SECOND APPELLANT

and

PORT ST JOHNS MUNICIPALITY RESPONDENT

Neutral Citation: Fono and Another v Port St Johns Municipality (1271/2022)
[2024] ZASCA 161 (22 November 2024)
Coram: MOCUMIE, MABINDLA -BOQWANA and SMITH JJA and
MJALI and MANTAME AJJA
Heard: 5 September 2024
Delivered: 22 November 2024
Summary: Constitutional and Administrative Law – constitutionality of
legislation – the Minister responsible for the administration of the National
Building Regulations and Standards Act 103 of 1977 not cited – finding of the
full court regarding the constitutionality of the Justice Laws Rationalisation
Act 18 of 1996 ineffectual – non-compliance with Spatial Planning and Land
Use Management Act 16 of 2013 (the SPLUMA) – courts have a discretion
whether to grant demolition order s – courts may issue directives for

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preventative or remedial steps in terms of s 32 of the SPLUMA – the discretion
must be exercised judiciously.

3
_______________________________________________________________

ORDER
_________________________________________________________

On appeal from : Eastern Cape Division of the High Court, Mthatha ( Pakati,
Stretch JJ and Qitsi AJ, sitting as court of appeal):
1 The appeal is upheld in part.
2 The order of the full court is set aside and substituted with the following
order:
‘(a) The appeal is upheld with each party to pay their own costs.
(b) The order of the court of first instance under case number
4056/2018 is set aside and replaced by the following order:
‘‘(i) The conduct of the first respondent in continuing with the
construction of buildings and/or commencing with the erection of new
structures on Erf 7[...], Port St Johns, without the applicant’s required
approval, is declared unlawful.
(ii) The first respondent is interdicted from continuing with the
construction of buildings and/or commencing with the erection of new
structures on the property, without complying with s 33(1) of the
Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013.
(iii) The applicant is ordered to provide the first respondent with the
requirements for the submission of building plans (and subsequent
approval thereof), in writing, within 30 (thirty) days of this order.
(iv) The first respondent is ordered to comply with such requirements
within three (3) months of the provision thereof.”
3 Save as aforesaid, the appeal is dismissed.
4 Each party is ordered to pay their own costs of this appeal.

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JUDGMENT


Mantame A JA ( Mocumie, Mabindla -Boqwana and Smith JJA and Mjali
AJA concurring):

Introduction
[1] This is an appeal against the whole judgment and order of the full court of
the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court, Mthatha (the full court). The full
court, sitting as a court of appeal, upheld the appeal against the whole judgment
and order of the high court , per Coltman J, sitting as a court of first instance,
and, inter alia, declared unlawful and set aside the conduct of the first appellant,
Mr Luxolo Fono (Mr Fono) , in constructing a building without approved
building plans, and ordered him to demolish the building. The appellants appeal
against that order with the special leave of this Court.

[2] The second appellant is the Caguba Tribal Authority (the tribal authority).
The respondent is the Port St Johns Local Municipality (the municipality). The
Caguba Community Proper ty Association (the Caguba Community) and
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs , who were cited in
the high court as the second and fourth respondent s, respectively , did not
participate in the appeal.

[3] Before getting into the merits of the appeal, I must first deal with the
preliminary jurisdictional issue of the appeal having lapsed , because it was
prosecuted out of time. For this reason, Mr Fono sought condonation for the late
lodging of the appeal record and the reinstatement of the appeal.

Condonation

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[4] It is trite that an applicant who seeks condonation for the late prosecution
of his or her appeal must satisfy the court of:
(a) The nature of the relief sought – which is condonation for the late filing
of the appeal record and reinstatement of the appeal;
(b) The extent and cause of the delay;
(c) The effect of the delay;
(d) The reasonableness of the explanation;
(e) The importance of the issue; and
(f) The prospects of success.

[5] It is common cause that the appeal was not lodged timeously. Mr Fono
made an application for the late prosecution and re-instatement of the appeal. In
their heads of argument , and before this Court , counsel for Mr Fono stated that
the delay was as a result of , among others, problems with the transcription of
the record, the late discovery of missing pages, and having to change counsel.
He highlighted the reasonable prospects of success. These applications were not
opposed by the municipality. Consequently, an order re-instating the appeal was
granted. This was the case with the municipality as well , which had filed its
heads of argument out of time. Mr Fono had no objection with this Court
granting the municipality the condonation sought. Consequently, an order
condoning the late filing of the heads of arguments was granted in their
favour. The appeal proceeded on that basis.

Factual matrix
[6] Port St John s is a small rural , tourist town nestled in the Wild Coast,
Eastern Cape. The Caguba Community Propert y Association acquired land in
this picturesque coastal strip of land, pursuant to a land claim lodged by it in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the Restitution of Land Rights Act
22 of 1994 . On 3 February 2008, the Regional Land Claims Commission, the

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Port St Johns Municipality and the Caguba Community entered into a written
settlement agreement which transferred a portion of land to various
stakeholders. The Caguba Community benefitted from this award. Even though
there was no formal transfer of the land from the Minister of Rural
Development and Land Reform to the Caguba Community , it is not disputed
that the land on which Mr Fono commenced with the construction of a tourist
facility, being Erf 7[...] Port St Johns, Eastern Cape (the property), belongs to
that community.

[7] It was common cause that Mr Fono commenced building operations
without any approved building plans. According to a municipal official,
Ms Lonwabo Zide (Ms Zide), she and other municipal functionaries visited the
property on 20 August 2018 and established that a building was being erected
without approved building plans . She thereafter issued Mr Fono with a letter
informing him that he was in breach of municipal town planning and building
by-laws, the provisions of the National Building Regulations and Building
Standards Act 103 of 1977 (the Building Standards Act) and the Spatial
Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013 ( the SPLUMA). She
consequently demanded that he cease building operations immediately.
Although Mr Fono had undertaken to comply with the demand , she
subsequently discovered (on 22 August 2018) that he had nevertheless
proceeded with the construction . The municipality was accordingly forced to
launch an urgent application in the high court for appropriate relief.

[8] Mr Fono denied that he undertook to stop the building project, as alleged
by Ms Zide. He claimed that he was not on site either on 20 or 22 August 2018
but was in Mthatha. He had no idea who Ms Zide communicated with, but was
certain it could not have been with him. However, nothing really turns on this
issue since Mr Fono confirmed that after the urgent application was served on

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him and having obtained legal advice, he gave instructions for the construction
to cease.

[9] In his answering affidavit, Mr Fono gave an undertaking to ‘instruct an
architect or draughtsman to draw up plans for the structures that are under
construction’, for submission to the relevant authorities, should that be required.
He contended that he was unaware that he had to comply with municipal town
planning requirements. He said that he had proceeded with the building
operations on the assumption that he complied with the requirements of the
traditional authority, which did not ask for building plans.

In the court of first instance
[10] On 24 August 2018, the municipality applied on an urgent basis to the
Eastern Cape Division of the High Court, Mthatha for an order:
(a) declaring Mr Fono’s construction of a building on Erf 7[...] Port St Johns,
without the required approval by the municipality to be unlawful;
(b) interdicting Mr Fono from carrying on with the construction of the
building until he has complied with the applicable municipal laws and
regulations;
(c) compelling Mr Fono to demolish the building; and
(d) In the event of Mr Fono fail ing to demolish the building, that the
municipality, be authorised to demolish it.

[11] The municipality contended that:
(a) Mr Fono constructed the building on land falling within the jurisdiction
of the municipality without approved building plans by the municipality;
(b) Mr Fono’s conduct was in contravention of th e Building Standards Act;
and

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(c) Mr Fono ’s conduct contravened the SPLUMA and the municipality’s
building control and land use by-laws.
[12] In his answering affidavit, Mr Fono raised several points in limine. First,
he contended that the Building Standards Act is not applicable in the area that
used to fall within the territory of the erstwhile Republic of Trans kei. Second,
that despite the former Transkei’s incorporation into the Republic of South
Africa, pursuant to the repeal of the Transkei Act 100 of 1976, 1 the Building
Standards Act was not included in the schedule of statutes that were made
applicable in the territory of the former Transkei in terms of the Justice Laws
Rationalisation Act 18 of 1996 (the Rationalisation Act). Th e Rationalisation
Act was enacted to streamline, rationalise or consolidate certain statutes
mentioned in Schedule I of that Act. The fact that the Building Standards Act
was not included within the scope of the Schedule means that it does not apply
in the territory of the former Transkei, or so the argument went.

[13] Third, the municipality’s contention that he was in contravention of
SPLUMA is unsustainable, since the Municipality failed to provide any detail
regarding how that statute had been contravened. In this regard , Mr Fono
contended that the municipality, both in its compliance notice and court papers,
failed to state on which provisions of the SPLUMA it relied.

[14] Fourth, Mr Fono asserted that he had obtained the permission of the tribal
authority to occupy the property and to build a guest house and tourist
accommodation on it. This authority was granted by way of lease, which he had
concluded with the tribal authority. The agreed rental was R500 per annum, for
a period of 75 years. In view of the above, Mr Fono argued that the municipality
had no right to impose and enforce the municipal laws in relation to the property
in question.

1 In terms of s 230(1) of the Interim Constitution.

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[15] Fifth, the municipality alleged that Mr Fono had contravened its by-laws,
without providing any detail regarding the relevant provision s that he was
alleged to have contravened . He had perused numerous by -laws on the
municipality’s website and none related to the regulation of building plans or
approval of developments. It must therefore be assumed that the municipality
never promulgated such by-laws.

[16] Sixth, Mr Fono contended that, in any event, such by-laws, if any, would
not apply to the property , since it did not fall within the jurisdiction of the
municipality, but rather under the traditional authority. He contended that i n the
former Transkei, traditional legal system s have been in existence since time
immemorial. The property falls directly within the jurisdiction of a tribal
authority and would therefore be subject to the traditional legal system. The
approval for the construction , which he obtained from the tribal authority ,
consequently sufficed to legitimise the construction of the buildings.

[17] Mr Fono also asserted that the balance of convenience was in his favour.
He had spent R80 000 on the construction project and, should demolition be
ordered, he would suffer catastrophic loss. He maintained that the structure was,
in any event , sound and complie d with relevant building standards , as far as
they may be applicable. He was confident that this assertion would be
confirmed by a building inspector or engineer , who he agreed may be
dispatched to ‘inspect the property and render an account on a professional level
as to the standard of the building work ’. The order sought by the municipality
would be unfair and prejudicial to him. Instead, he should be allowed an
opportunity to engage the relevant professionals and thereafter to submit the
required building plans to the relevant authorities for approval.

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[18] The court of first instance dismissed the application , upholding the
contention that the Building Standards Act was not applicable in the territory of
the former Transkei. It also found that the municipality was unable to prove that
Mr Fono had contravened the provisions of either its by-laws or the SPLUMA.

In the full court
[19] In upholding the municipality’s appeal, the full court concluded that the
court of first instance made two fundamental errors in dismissing the
municipality’s application for an interdict . F irst, in finding that the Building
Standards Act did not apply to the property and second, in finding that Mr Fono
did not contravene the provisions of the SPLUMA.

[20] According to the full court, the court of first instance erred in finding that
since the Building Standards Act came into effect on 1 September 1985, after
the formation of the ‘independent’ homeland of Transkei, it did not apply to
property situated in the territory of the former Transkei homeland. The full court
was of the view that this finding is inconsistent with the ratio expressed by this
Court in Lester v N dlambe Municipality (Lester)2 and in Walele v The City of
Cape Town ,3 where the Constitutional Court emphasi sed that the Building
Standards Act must be interpreted to promote the spirit and purport of the Bill of
Rights in order to protect the property rights of landowners and occupiers of
neighbouring properties.4 The full court referred to Herbert N.O. and Others v
Senqu Municipality and Others (Herbert),5 where the Constitutional Court
commented that:

2 Lester v Ndlambe Municipality and Another [2013] ZASCA 95; [2014] 1 All SA 402 (SCA); 2015 (6) SA 283
(SCA).
3 Walele v City of Cape Town Others [2008] ZACC 11; 2008 (6) SA 129 (CC); 2008 (11) BCLR 1067 (CC)
(Walele). See also: Turnbull-Jackson v Hibiscus Court Municipality and Others [2014] ZACC 24; 2014 (6) SA
592 (CC); 2014 (11) BCLR 1310 (CC) para 73.
4 Walele para 55.

592 (CC); 2014 (11) BCLR 1310 (CC) para 73.
4 Walele para 55.
5 Herbert N.O. and Others v Senqu Municipality and Others [2019] ZACC 31; 2019 (11) BCLR 1343 (CC);
2019 (6) SA 231 (CC).

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‘Evidently the partial extension of the Upgrading Act perpetuated the unequal protection and
benefit of the Act on victims of discriminatory laws of the apartheid era . This unequal
treatment [not only] applied between people who . . . were forced to live in the homelands . . .
[b]ut all those who held rights governed [by different sections of the Upgrading Act].’6

[21] In essence, in upholding the appeal, the full court equated the
impermissible differentiation caused by the statute under consideration in
Herbert, namely, the Land Affairs General Amendment Act 61 of 1998, to the
consequences which would result from a finding that the Building Standards
Act does not apply in the territory of the former Transkei . It reasoned that ‘in
both instances, people who resided in the territory of the former Transkei
homelands were denied the equal protection and benefit of the law for no reason
other than the fact that they were living in these former homelands ’. As a result,
it found that ‘[t]he principle in Herbert, that this type of differentiation is
irrational and unconstitutional’, was equally applicable in this matter.

[22] In addition , the full court reasoned that the finding of the court of first
instance ‘renders the Rationalisation Act unconstitutional, in that it results in the
[Building] Standards Act discriminating against persons who reside in areas
such as the former Transkei, by denying them the protection and the benefits
[ordinarily afforded ] by the [Building] Standards Act’. It consequently found
that the Building Standards Act applies to the property even though it is within
the territory of the former Transkei.

[23] Finally, the full court found that there was no dispute that s 33(1) of the
SPLUMA applied to Mr Fono , since he did not deny that he failed to apply for
permission for the erection of structures or buildings as required in terms of
s 33(1) of the SPLUMA. It therefore found that the court of first instance erred

6 Ibid paras 28 and 30.

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in finding to the contrary. The full court consequently upheld the appeal and set
aside the order of the court of first instance.

Discussion
[24] In argument before us, Mr Fono abandoned most of the points in limine
raised in his answering affidavit. His counsel correctly accepted that since the
property is in the municipality’s area of jurisdiction, Mr Fono was required to
apply for the approval of the building plans , either in terms of the Building
Standards Act (provided it is found to apply to the property), the municipality’s
by-laws, if any, or the SPLUMA. He, however, persisted with his arguments that
the Building Standards Act does not apply in the territory that used to fall under
the former Transkei and that the municipality failed to establish that it adopted
the necessary by -laws to regulate the approval of building plans and relate d
matters. The municipality conceded that it failed to promulgate the by -laws and
nothing more needs to be said about it.

[25] There are fundamental problems with the manner in which the full court
dealt with the issue of the applicability of the Building Standards Act in the area
where the property is situated. First, the full court’s reliance on Lester was
misplaced. The property in that case was not situated in the former Ciskei
homeland, as the court erroneously assumed , but in Kenton -On-Sea, a town
situated in the Republic of South Africa. It was therefore common cause that the
Building Standards Act applied to that property. The judgment also only
concerned the issue of the peremptory wording of s 21 of the Building
Standards Act in respect of demolition orders.

[26] Second, while not determining this issue, it is important to point out that
there is a general presumption that the omission of a statute from a schedule of
laws that were made applicable in a particular territory or jurisdiction is

13
deliberate and not merely as a result of a mistake on the part of the legislature.
In Kaknis v Absa Bank and Another ,7 this Court held that ‘[i]t is a well -
established principle of statutory interpretation that the legislature must be taken
to be aware of the nature and state of the law existing at the time when
legislation is passed’. 8 The effect of the full court’s judgment is to declare the
provisions of the Rationalisation Act unconstitutional , insofar as they fail to
make the Building Standards Act applicable in the territory of the former
Transkei.

[27] It is common cause that the Minister of Economic Affairs, who is the
Minister responsible for th e administration of the Building Standards Act, was
not given notice that such relief would be sought. 9 In my view, the full court
erred in deciding that issue without affording the responsible Minister t he
opportunity to express his or her views. For all we know , there may well be
good reasons why the legislature has decided not to make the statute applicable
in the area that used to fall under the Transkei homeland. The full court was
therefore not entitled to pronounce on the constitutionality of the Rationalisation
Act.

[28] Third, the full court erroneously assumed that the municipality had
promulgated by -laws which regulate building plans and constructions. It
consequently interdicted Mr Fono from proceeding with the construction of the
building, until such time as he ha d complied with the applicable municipal by-
laws and regulations. In the absence of municipal by-laws, it is obviously not
possible for Mr Fono to comply with the order.


7 Kaknis v Absa Bank Limited, Kaknis v Man Financial Services SA (Pty) Ltd and Another [2016] ZASCA 206;
[2017] 2 All SA 1 (SCA); 2017 (4) SA 17 (SCA).
8 Ibid para 26.
9 The Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform was cited as the fourth respondent.

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[29] Mr Fono’s counsel has correctly conceded that the municipality was
entitled to rely on his non-compliance with the provisions of s 33(1) of the
SPLUMA. The building is intended for tourism accommodation and ,
accordingly, falls within the municipality’s Spatial Development Framework
Policy, which has been approved in terms of the SPLUMA.

[30] His counsel, however, submitted that while the provisions of the Building
Standards Act in relation to demolition orders are peremptory, the court has
greater discretion in terms of the SPLUMA to consider other less drastic
remedies. He argued further that a demolition order would be unduly harsh and
draconian in the circumstances of this case . According to him, i t would be fair
to all parties – and would adequately address the municipality’s concern about
safety issues if Mr Fono were ordered to comply with s 33 of the SPLUMA.

[31] The issue that falls for consideration in this appeal has therefore resolved
itself into the narrow and discrete question as to whether this Court should order
the demolition of the building or, alternatively, allow Mr Fono an opportunity to
comply with s 33 of the SPLUMA , by directing appropriate preventative or
remedial measures in terms of s 32(2)(c).

[32] The SPLUMA preamble recognises the fact that ‘many people in
South Africa continue to live and work in places defined and influenced by past
spatial planning and land use laws and practices which were based on racial
inequality, segregation and unsustainable settlement patterns ’. Section 24(2)(c)
of the SPLUMA provides that a land use scheme adopted in terms of s ubsection
(1) must:
‘(c) include provisions that permit the incremental introduction of land use management and
regulation in areas under traditional leadership, rural areas, informal settlements, slums and
areas not previously subject to a land scheme.’

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[33] Mr Fono’s counsel , while accepting that Mr Fono contravened the
SPLUMA, submitted that the interest of justice demand that this Court should
allow for the incremental introduction of land use management and regulations,
and should therefore be loath to order the demolition of the property . At worst,
the development should be stopped until the land development application ha s
been submitted. In any event, Mr Fono, in his answering affidavit, undertook
not to develop the property further pending the finali sation of this matter and
further appealed to the Court for an opportunity to submit building plans or
documents that were required in terms of any law , since he had laboured under
the impression that the property is under traditional authority. In addition, s 33
of the SPLUMA does not expressly provide for a demolition order in the event
of land being developed without a ‘ land development application’ . An
administrative penalty would consequently be more appropriate, so he argued.

[34] Mr Fono appeared to have been under the erroneous impression that,
regard being had to the traditional legal system, he had substantially complied
with applicable law s relating to the use of land, construction and management
of buildings in the territory of the former Transkei. In this regard he relied on
the affidavit filed by Chief Afrika Mandla Fono , confirming that Mr Fono has
acted in accordance with customary law . In the circumstances, it was submitted
that it would be ‘unreasonable, unfair and disproportionate’ to order demolition
of the structures.

[35] Constitutional proportionality, according to Mr Fono , was said to be an
issue that should have been considered by the full c ourt. This approach was said
to be important , more especially that there appears to be a conflict between the
traditional and municipal legal systems. It was contended that the reality of land
use in rural areas of the former Transkei has always been left to be administered

16
by the tribal authority . This Court was implored to take into consideration this
constitutional imperative.

[36] As to the issue of an appropriate remedy, Mr Fono submitted that
immediately after the urgent application was served on him , he stopped with the
construction. The construction is currently at an advanced stage. If demolition
were to be ordered, he stands to lose a considerable amount of money as the
construction is currently at roof level. Mr Fono has tendered to instruct an
architect or dra ughtsman to draw up building plans for submission to the
municipality. That tender remains. In any event, the building is structurally
sound and there can be little doubt that it complies with whatever building
standards that may be applicable, so he said.

[37] I agree with these submissions. The municipality’s reliance on several
judgments of this Court regarding the extent of the court’s discretion, if any, not
to order the demolition of buildings in terms of s 21 of the Building Standards
Act, is misplaced. The jurisprudence relied upon by the municipality was
developed in the context of the peremptory wording of s 21 of that Act. Section
32(2)(c) of the SPLUMA, on the other hand, grants this Court a broader
discretion. It allows a municipality, in the event of a contravention of it s land
use scheme, to apply for an interdict, a demolition order or an order , ‘directing
any other appropriate preventative or remedial measure ’. There can accordingly
be little doubt that courts have wider discretion in respect of the type of relief
they may grant in the event of non -compliance with s 33 of the SPLUMA . That
discretion, must of course, be exercised judiciously and will depend on the facts
of each case.

[38] An important factor in considering whether a demolition order would be
appropriate in this case is the fact that the municipality did not exactly cover

17
itself in glory in the manner i n which it handled the situation. First , it purported
to enforce non existing by-laws. Second, it was unacceptably vague regarding
the provisions of the SPLUMA and it incorrectly cited the Building Standards
Act on which it purportedly relied. And third, it failed to cite the Minister
responsible for the administration of the Building Standards Act, when he or she
clearly had a substantial and direct interest in the relief sought . Furthermore, as
mentioned earlier, Mr Fono has offered to engage the relevant experts to enable
him to prepare the necessary application and draw building plans for submission
to the municipality in compliance with the provisions of the SPLUMA . Mr
Fono’s assertion that the building is structurally sound and does not pose any
safety risks can be verified b y the municipality. It is therefore only fair that Mr
Fono must be afforded an opportunity to remedy the breach.

[39] In terms of s 32 of the SPLUMA, a municipality is empowered to appoint
a municipal official or any other person as an inspector to investigate any non -
compliance with its land use scheme. Section 32(5) vests extensive powers in
the duly appointed municipal official or inspector. And in terms of s 32(11) ,
such functionary may issue a compliance notice , in the prescribed form, to the
person in charge of the property. In my view , an order in these terms must be
preferable to a demolition order. It will ensure that Mr Fono will only be
allowed to proceed with the construction after a duly appointed official has
inspected the property, he has submitted the necessary building plans for
approval and has complied with any compliance notice issued by that official.
Should he fail to comply, the municipality will have the option of applying to a
competent court for a demolition order, on the same papers, duly supplemented,
if necessary.

[40] Regarding the issue of costs, I am of the view that it will only be fair for

[40] Regarding the issue of costs, I am of the view that it will only be fair for
the parties to bear their own legal costs, both in the court of first instance and on

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appeal. As I have explained above, the legal position regarding the applicable
town planning and land use legislation in the area where the building was being
constructed was by no means clear. And the municipality has added to th at
confusion by failing to promulgate the necessary by -laws and by being vague
and ambivalent regarding which legislative provisions it relied on.

[41] For these reasons, I make the following order:
1 The appeal is upheld in part.
2 The order of the full court is set aside and substituted with the following
order:
‘(a) The appeal is upheld with each party to pay their own costs.
(b) The order of the court of first instance under case number
4056/2018 is set aside and replaced by the following order:
‘‘(i) The conduct of the first respondent in continuing with the
construction of buildings and/or commencing with the erection of
new structures on Erf 7[...], Port St Johns, without the applicant’s
required approval, is declared unlawful.
(ii) The first respondent is interdicted from continuing with the
construction of buildings and/or commencing with the erection of
new structures on the property, without complying with s 33(1) of
the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013.
(iii) The applicant is ordered to provide the first respondent with
the requirements for the submission of building plans (and
subsequent approval thereof), in writing, within 30 (thirty) days of
this order.
(iv) The first respondent is ordered to comply with such
requirements within three (3) months of the provision thereof.”
3 Save as aforesaid, the appeal is dismissed.
4 Each party is ordered to pay their own costs of this appeal.

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__________________
B P MANTAME
ACTING JUDGE OF APPEAL

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Appearances

For the appellants: A R Duminy
Instructed by: Khaya Nondabula Attorneys, Mthatha
Rampai Attorneys, Bloemfontein

For the respondent: L Haskins
Instructed by: Mvuzo Notyesi Inc, Mthatha
N.W. Phalatsi & Partners, Bloemfontein