Illicit advertising?

Residents are angered by the lack of negotiation preceding the appearance of three billboards in Sunninghill.

Two billboards on Rivonia Road and Maxwell Drive appeared in April, shortly after notices of application to advertise were placed near the sites by Meraka Media.

Billboards were erected before the requisite 21 days from notice of application had passed, despite residents lodging their objections. Sunninghill Community concluded that the company had erected the billboards illegally, and sent complaints to Meraka Media, without response.

However, Meraka Media’s owner, Mbulelo Mtselu, insists he is in the process of responding to public participation, and, in compliance with bylaws, has not yet erected billboards on intended sites. Mtselu did not respond to the Community’s emails, he says, thinking they were sent in error.

“The two billboards should not be attributed to me or my company. I do not know who is responsible for the billboards and I am not associated with them,” Mtselu stated, adding that he hopes for an amicable resolution of the problem.

A third billboard was recently erected nearby on Rivonia Road without any notice, and the Community remains in the dark about who is responsible.

“There’s a rule of law and there’s due process, and they’ve got to follow due process,” stated Linda Gildenhuys of Sunninghill Community, adding that the association wishes to negotiate acceptable advertising content, and will not oppose properly approved billboards.

According to Gildenhuys, advertising was erected on one billboard by sign and flighting company Red Dot Branding, which abandoned a second after challenges from residents. Red Dot Branding has not responded to requests for comment.

Sunninghill Community reported the billboards to Metro police and Region A authorities without success, as the Bylaw Enforcement Unit reportedly lacks the necessary equipment to remove the billboards, says Gildenhuys.

“This is a huge frustration in the whole city,” commented Ward 93 councillor, Annette Deppe.

‘The councillor and the public can report the problem, but if the Bylaw Enforcement Unit doesn’t have the equipment, where does the public go?”

The unit has yet to respond to requests for comment.