An uproar has risen over the plague of illegal advertising signs which seem to be sprouting all over the Johannesburg suburbs. Ward councillors and affected parties have expressed concern over this occurrence with Ward 117 councillor Tim Truluck experiencing a little success after a massive illegal billboard sign at Zoo Lake was removed.
Truluck said the sign was removed by the City of Johannesburg after he had raised awareness about it on social media.
“To put up an outdoor advertising billboard, the advertisers have to apply to City’s Development Planning Department who then sends it out for comment to the rest of the department. Ward councillors and the community also have to give their input and, in this case, no one was contacted,” said Truluck.
He added that he had observed a similar pattern on William Nicol Drive towards Sandton. Ward 90 councillor Martin Williams confirmed that he requested Bramley Police Station to investigate business owners who are behind illegal advertising along William Nicol and Sandton drives as well as other areas in the City.
Williams described the adverts as defacing and fraudulently damaging the City’s property. Williams normally drives around with a plier taking down illegal adverts within his reach.
“What we see on our streets is unacceptable and we can’t tolerate such. I have opened a case with the police and investigations are underway.”
Members of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, Leah Knott, and Development Planning, Reuben Masango, joined forces with ward councillors in taking down illegal advertising. The two entities released a joint statement declaring war on illegal advertising signs.
The statement indicated that advertisers were given a 36-month transitional period on 14 March this year which is a principle to allow the advertisers to regularise or make their billboards officially known to the City by no later than 31 October this year.
The request for the declaration of illegal signs was made to enable the City to engage the declaring party as to which signs may be approved and which are not approvable in terms of the by-laws. However, it appears advertisers have gone into a frenzy of putting up advertising signs before the deadline so as to give the impression that the signs were already there before set date.
The City said the proposed amendments to the 2009 Outdoor Advertising By-laws will allow the City to take action against offenders where they have erected a sign without council’s approval.
The statement further read, “A renewed partnership with the municipal prosecutors will ensure that by-law infringements are prosecuted criminally and that punishments are more severe (inclusive of imprisonment) so that the offenders will refrain from their illegal practice and adhere to the law.”
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