The gloves are off as the KwaDukuza municipality is clamping down hard on illegal advertising billboards.
KDM has identified seven illegal structures – two in Ballito and five in Stanger – that resulted in three separate court cases.
Agencies taken to court include Continental Outdoor Media, Nathuswe Business Enterprise, Media Digest and Face First Media.
Sikhumbuzo Hlongwane, head of economic development and planning said the contracts the agencies had with KDM for the billboards had expired.
The case against Face First Media is still ongoing but all the others have been ordered to remove all illegal advertising structures. “All signage within the jurisdiction of KDM, visible from a public road, including those on private property, must be applied for,” said Hlongwane.
He said illegal billboards cost KDM a lot of money in lost revenue and posed a potential risk to public safety.
“The structures require a high level of structural stability. If in excess of 36 square metres and requires an environmental impact assessment to ensure public safety.”
He said illegal billboards were erected without considering the impact it might have on motorists or pedestrians.
Mduduzi Mdunge, legal associate at the local government department, said one of the illegal billboards on the N2 obscured a prominent Ballito business’ branding on its building, negatively affecting business.
Senior outdoor advertising officer, Amanda Mbokazi, said KDM has recently awarded tenders to service providers for litter bins, street pole signs, street name signs and billboards.
Awarding of tenders for billboards is still being processed.
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