(1) In the absence of any application in terms of section 62, the Minister may, on the recommendation of the variations committee, authorize a departure from any provision of these by -laws for specified purposes or all purposes generally.

(2) The Minister may, at any time, on recommendation of the variations committee, by notice in the Gazette-

a) permit the local authority to authorize, on any number of occasions, a departure specified in such a notice;

b) impose any condition subject to which the local authority may authorize a departure specified in such notice;

c) prohibit the local authority from authorizing a departure specified in such notice.

(3) Whenever the Minister authorizes any departure in respect of a particular building, site or housing project in terms of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 63, he shall issue a departure certificate, specifying –

a) the provisions of these by-laws from which the departure is authorized; and

b) the nature of the departure which is authorized; and

c) the particular building site or housing project in respect of which the departure is authorized; and

d) any terms or conditions subject to which the departure is authorized.

(4) Whenever the Minister authorizes a departure for specified purposes or all purposes generally, he shall publish a notice to that effect in the Gazette, specifying-

a) the provision of these by-laws from which the departure is authorized; and

b) the nature of the departure which is authorized; and

c) the period for which the departure is authorized ; and

d) any terms or conditions subject to which the departure is authorized.