The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) notified residents that everyone has the right to remove illegal advertisements, including those on street lights and traffic signals in a Tweet on 31 May.
According to the CoJ’s by-laws, no person may erect or display any advertising sign on a road traffic sign or tree, including posters on a road island, street light pole or security access control structure on any property or building.
The cost incurred by the City for the removal and storage of an advertising sign, other than a poster, and other costs incurred by the City as contemplated may be recovered from the owner of that advertising sign or the owner of the property or any other person whose name or activity is displayed on that advertising sign. If an advertising sign has been removed, an authorised official must give notice thereof to the owner of that sign in writing, if his or her address can be ascertained, and state that he or she may claim the advertising sign concerned. Any advertising sign which has been removed and stored may be released to its owner, subject to payment of a prescribed fee. Any advertising sign removed and not claimed within 60 days may be disposed of in any manner by the City. The Council shall be indemnified against any claim for loss or damage of any advertising sign in the removal or impoundment thereof.
“A lot of illegal advertising is popping up everywhere, but the by-law prohibits this, especially on council land. Some of these signs obstruct traffic. We’d also like to urge businesses and corporate not to use these illegal advertising methods,” said the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Public Safety, councillor Michael Sun.
“If you see any signage, especially next to the road, and it is not on a properly developed structure, it’s probably illegal. Mobile trailers are not supposed to be parked anywhere, instead they should be moving, pulled by a car. They cannot be left somewhere for display,” he added.
Residents who come across illegal advertising were advised to contact the JMPD offices on 011 375 5911.
