Today marks more than 40 days since the 2014 national and provincial elections took place on May 7. It is common knowledge that during such times, political parties are permitted to display posters and advertisements which are regulated by municipal by-laws. However, certain parties did not adhere to these rules to allow other political parties sufficient space to exercise their democratic right. The by-laws prohibit, among other things, having more than three posters per light pole, the vandalisation of posters, their being detrimental to the environment and/or being erected before the election date has been gazetted.
They also require that parties remove their material within seven days of the conclusion of the elections. If they fail to do so, the municipality is supposed to remove the material and the party will forfeit its deposit and be charged for the cost incurred in removing the material. Mbombela has failed to do so as yet. “As much as parties expect municipalities to respect the right to advertise during campaigns, so too must they respect the by-laws,” according to Mr Anthony Benadie, leader of the DA in a member’s statement to provincial legislature on June 12.
“It is a concern that 36 days after the elections, thousands of election posters still line the streets. Not only are they an eyesore, but they display the arrogance and disregard that parties have for the laws and rules of municipalities,” he concluded. After sending numerous queries to Mbombela, no response had been received.
