(1) An authority shall take all necessary, reasonable and practicable measures for— (a) preventing or causing to be prevented the development of unsatisfactory standards or overcrowding, or remedying or causing to be remedied unsatisfactory standards or overcrowding, within its authority area; and
(b) ensuring the provision of suitable accommodation for persons required to vacate buildings—
(i) in terms of an order or abatement order; or
(ii) within clearance areas as a result of action taken by the authority in terms of a clearance warrant.
(2) If the Minister considers that an authority has failed—
(a) to comply with any provisions of subsection (1); or
(b) in any respect other than that referred to in paragraph (a), toimplement this Act; he may give the authority such directions to remedy such failure as he may think fit.
(3) Where an authority has failed to comply with any directions given by the Minister in terms of subsection (2), the Minister may do or cause to be done all or any of the things which the authority should have done—
(a) to comply with any provisions of subsection (1); or
(b) in any respect other than that referred to in paragraph (a), toimplement this Act;
and may recover from the authority the cost of doing or causing to be done all or any of such things, together with interest on such cost at the standard rate.