uMhlanga sex adverts raises more than just eyebrows
DA councillor, Heinz de Boer, feels that the municipality should 'clamp down' on adult entertainment adverts being displayed on public roads in uMhlanga.
THE return of a series of sex posters on display in uMhlanga is ‘distasteful’, local ward councillor Heinz de Boer said yesterday. This follows community objection to three sex posters in uMhlanga Rocks Drive earlier this year, which featured the silhouette of what appeared to be a naked woman.
De Boer said he was outraged after he recently spotted similar posters strapped to streetlights along uMhlanga Rocks Drive, Lighthouse Road and Armstrong Avenue, advertising an adult entertainment website. He argued that the posters were “too public” for the upmarket residential area.
“While none of the posters have displayed any graphic content some of the posters are blatantly advertising escort services, and while some people in my ward might be indulging in these services, I do not believe that it is suitable to advertise such services on a public road,” he said.
The councillor said that he was disappointed that the municipality had not been regulating the content of the adverts effectively. “They are very strict regarding the amount of words used in the adverts and how large they are, but do not seem to care about the content. They need to clamp down on these types of adverts,” he said.
According to De Boer, he has received several complaints from residents in the area, but has not experienced a ‘public outcry’. “I realise that we no longer live in a conservative society, but this is pushing the limits. These adverts need to be moderated to preserve our neighbourhoods,” De Boer concluded.
The Northglen News was unable to get comment from the department of Development Planning, Environment and Management at the time of publication.
However, on the municipal website it was stated , under the bylaws document, that “any advertisement which, in the opinion of the city engineer, is of an indecent, obscene or objectionable character or of a nature calculated a pernicious or injurious effect” will be prohibited.
I am not a prude by any means and believe our society should be more liberal, however my child is 7 and learning to read and our drive around our community is a constant barrage of questions like “Mom, what is sex”?, Mom what is rape, what is murder?” thanks to our newspaper headlines. These things I will openly discuss with him at the moment where I as a parent feel he is mature enough to understand the content. PG ratings should apply to advertising in the public sector!!! PS: Negative headlines don’t make for a positive day, it is visible and play on our psych too. We have to be responsible with the messages we send out to society. It is no wonder the average South African suffers from GAD (General Anxiety Disorder) and I feel this right to advertise is affecting us all. Rather have signs that read HONK if you Happy, Smile if you feel Loved!!!! Where is the balance, it is a social responsibility to balance being informed and inflicting information onto young minds that are not ready for the information at hand. With technology at our finger tips now each individual can seek what they wish to find when they wish to find it. We need to be mindful of the content we imprint on our conscious otherwise it will reek havoc in our lives and cause unnecessary stress.