Contractors arrested for illegal billboard

Fourways residents are fighting against the rapidly growing trend of illegal billboards in and around the area. A motorist reported the erection of an illegal advertising sign on William Nicol Drive. This is after the perpetrators were previously stopped and arrested after their third attempt to have the illegal board erected.

In October last year, Ward 94 councillor David Foley and members of the community stopped the erection of a giant illegal billboard at the same place and closed up the hole that was dug up by the unknown company. “I was on my way from a CPF meeting when I saw people digging on this site. I stopped and asked to produce a written permit to dig on municipal land, but they couldn’t. I called JMPD which responded quickly and confiscated the tools that they were using,” Foley had previously stated.

After a week, the hole was again dug and once again was closed and this time the company involved was identified. This time, councillor Foley and the JMPD’s By Law Enforcement Unit arrived on the scene to stop and arrest those involved.

Ward 94 councillor, David Foley believes perpetrators need to be made an example of as this has been an ongoing issue in the same area. “We have been dealing with this issue for some time now and to find out that it is the same company that keeps trying to put up a billboard illegally, something needs to be done. The company has proved that it has no intentions to do things the right way, so they have to face the law. Advertisers must know that there is a process to follow when it comes to erecting advertising signs on municipal land,” said Foley.

JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla highlighted that anyone who wants to erect an advertising sign can apply at the Department of Development Planning and pay a prescribed fee, and whoever contravenes municipal outdoor advertising by-laws can be fined or sentenced to up to 20 years imprisonment.

“The reason the advertising sign was taken down is that the owner did not apply for it to be erected through the City’s Department of Development Planning, and it’s now the third time that the city had to take it down. They need to apply at the Department of Development Planning and pay a prescribed fee. The city is now looking into taking the legal route regarding the owner of this advertising sign because it is now costing the city a lot for it to be taken down,” said Fihla.

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