At least half of the outdoor advertising billboards, banners and posters residents pass in traffic on their way to work and back during the day were erected illegally and do not comply with bylaws.
According to Jack Sekgobela, the City of Johannesburg’s (CoJ’s) outdoor advertising operations manager, more than half of these advertisements do not comply with the applicable Outdoor Advertising bylaws as set out by the city. He and his department warns especially political parties to familiarise themselves with Sections 27 and 28 of the bylaws before election campaigns truly kick off later this year, when the poll date is set.
“Candidates will soon start using all mediums of communication, including outdoor advertising billboards and banners, to put their message across,” Sekgobela in a press statement said.
“The advertising industry must be aware that Section 3 (1) makes it illegal to erect any sign prior to wirtten approval of the council in question.”
The department’s campaign to curb illegal advertising this season comes in the wake of the media scandal regarding the ‘Zuma Must Full’-banner which was erected illegally on the side of a Cape Town building. The city are to begin charging landlords rates and taxes on properties where illegal signs have been erected. Should property owners fail to honour the stupulated penalties for illegal use, he said the outdoor advertising unit of the JMPD shall instruct the city’s rates policy department to start disconnecting water and electricity to the relevant property. The final implications are that CoJ will shoulder the responsibility of litigation as it is the regulator and custodian of the bylaws.
“The public must know that [ongoing political campaigns] cannot be used as a licence for clutter and urban blight.”
The city’s outdoor advertising bylaws section 38(f) and (g) (i) (ii) in terms of section 13(a) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, read with section 162(2) of the Constitution, 1996 says the following about offenders in this regard.
“Any person who fails or refuses to comply with any instruction given in terms of or for the purposes of these bylaws… [is] liable on conviction to a fine or in default of payment to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months.
“In the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding R1 000, or in default of payment to imprisonment not exceeding one day, for every day during the continuance of such offence after a written notice has been served on him or her by the Council or an authorised official requiring the discontinuation of such offence.”
Read the full document here.
For more information or guidance, email the outdoor advertising unit at thamisi@joburg.org.za or call them on 011 407 6062.
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