In decluttering its environment, the metro has launched operation Lungisa to get rid of illegal advertising material from the streets.
The metro is deploying Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) personnel to identified hotspots.
The illegal advertising, mostly on street poles, traffic lights, dustbins, bus stations, electrical infrastructure and other municipal property, has become an intolerable eyesore.
CBDs are mainly targeted by illegal advertisers due to the high amount of foot traffic in them.
The operation is being carried out in conjunction with EMPD.
Removed signs and mobile billboards will be impounded at the metro’s storage facility until the owners come to claim them, and they will be issued with applicable penalties.
According to the metro’s billboards and the display of advertisements by-laws, no person shall erect or display any advertising signs or advertisements painted on a boundary wall, bridges, any water tower, reservoir or silo and all non-locality bound painted advertisements.
Electrical transformer boxes and dustbins are most popular for pasted advertisements which damage the infrastructure when the adverts are removed and subsequently require repainting.
This causes costly and unnecessary expenditure to the metro.
Some of the illegal advertisements are placed without consideration to traffic signage, they obscure them, cause confusion or interference, and obstruct pedestrian traffic.
Among the forbidden signage are banners and flags that advertise sale promotions or commercial products or events, or banners suspended across a road or affixed to a bridge spanning a road.
ALSO READ:
Metro announces three-year apprenticeship intended to create jobs
Job seekers cautioned to beware of job recruitment hoax
The metro’s Outdoor Advertising Management Committee (OAMC) keeps a register of all approved signs or advertising structures and allocates them a unique registration number displayed on the sign in a suitable, clearly visible position so it can be identified as approved.
This is to ensure seamless processing of outdoor advertising applications.
For more information on getting approval for advertising signs, and to discuss approval requirements, potential advertisers in the Germiston area can contact Susan Wilson (outdoor advertising control officer) on 011 999 0974 or email to Susan.Wilson@ekurhuleni.gov.za.
Have a story?
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.zaor Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist) kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za
Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:
Or add the GCN on WhatsApp 079 406 1181 or BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137) today, to get all the latest news.
Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers Bedfordview Edenvale News, Alberton Record and Kempton Express.
