Structural engineers are to be commissioned by the Tshwane Metro Council to deter mine if the Schubart Park block of flats should be demolished or refurbished.
The Pretoria High Court's ordered on Monday that if the municipality decided to refurbish the flats, the process should be concluded within 18 months.
Judge Bill Prinsloo also ordered that the municipality provide alternative accommodation for the displaced residents and storage for their possessions.
Executive mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said in briefing the media yesterday that the residents had not been evicted but evacuated from the block of flats, which had been found not to be fit for human habitation.
"We will commission structural engineers to determine the structural integrity of the facility," said Ramokgopa.
He said that so far, the metro council had provided 400 of the families with other accommodation.
A process has been started by the municipality to check the bona fides of the residents and whether they are legally in South Africa.
City manager Jason Ngobeni said that only people who were legally in South Africa would be provided for.
The residents would also have to produce proof they had been staying legally at Schubart Park.
Ngobeni said the structural engineers would take three months to assess the project.
The council would be able to complete the refurbishment - if needed - within 18 months, as stipulated by the court.
Ngobeni said any decision by the municipality - to demolish or to refurbish - would have to be referred to Judge Prinsloo.
Attempts were being made to contact the residents affected by the evacuation.
"We engaged the services of our social workers to assess the needs of the residents," he said, adding that it was possible some units had not been evacuated.
The municipality is to seek a court order allowing it to move into the building to evacuate whoever remains in any of the units.
"This will be done for the safety of those involved and to ensure that they do not encounter any problems," said Ngobeni.
The residents were evacuated by the municipality after a court order issued by Judge Prinsloo.
This was followed by an application lodged on behalf of the residents by Lawyers for Human Rights.
The residents were involved in a violent stand-off with the police while protesting on September 22 against water and electricity cuts.
The building had been declared unfit for habitation and the municipality's efforts to refurbish had proved fruitless.