Battle for Rosebank Rooftop Market heats up as the Saga returns to courts

The Rosebank Rooftop Market row is headed back to the courts, with the landlord, Hyprop Investments, and the management of the market, B&B Markets, launching proceedings against each other.

Hyprop is seeking a review of an Arbitration Appeals Tribunal ruling last week which found Hyprop had no right to close the market and cancel B&B Markets’ lease, which runs up to 2016.

B&B Markets, in turn, plans to launch a “semi-urgent” application for a court order to stop all construction on the market’s site, until the review has been heard.

Rosebank Mall is undergoing renovations to the value of R920 million.

Brad Fisher, founder of the market, claimed Hyprop had no grounds to apply for a review.

“It is delaying tactics,” he said.

Fisher said he had started negotiations with the owners of two other venues to where the market could be moved, but said this option was not “ideal”.

Hyprop Investor Relations Executive Nikki Catrakilis-Wagner said there was never any intention to close the market, only to move it due to the construction process.