(1) Where an authority wishes to apply to a housing court for an abatement order, itshall apply in writing to the clerk of court for the issue of an abatement summons.
(2) Upon an application in terms of subsection (1), the clerk of court shall issue anabatement summons in the prescribed form calling upon the responsible person of the dwelling concerned to show cause at the time, upon the date and at the place stated in the abatement summons why the abatement order should not be made:
Provided that the date stated in the abatement summons shall not be— (a) less than twenty-one days; or
(b) more than thirty days; from the date of issue of the abatement summons.