On October 18 the City of Johannesburg invited residents of different wards at Dlamini Hall to submit comments regarding the new 2021 outdoor advertising by-laws.
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The meeting intended to allow people from Soweto to voice out their concerns regarding black businesses which are denied to advertise on Soweto billboards but they claim to support the township economy.
The purpose of advertising should be about revitalising the state of the economy in Soweto.
Residents need to see these amendments operating and not just remaining as an Act and have to be implemented.
The new drafted by-laws are aimed at addressing new trends in the outdoor advertising space and according to the rationalisation of Local Government Affairs Act the 2009 by-laws are outdated.
The government cannot say they want to develop township economy without the township economy being advertised.
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Wendy from Ward 19 said, “I hope the fairness speaks to colour because every billboard is considered to be illegal here in Soweto if they are not from Soweto.
“But it’s funny because its only black companies that get their bill boards to be struck down.”
Black people from Soweto should not struggle to advertise or promote their businesses on Soweto based billboards because they don’t have capital to buy their way to inclusivity.
“Every time you want to advertise, they always tell you about space and structural engineers. They charge you and at the end, your plea gets rejected.
“Then you find that spot which you have identified taken by your PRIMEDIA and Continentals,” said one of the community members.
In response to the comments presented by the residents, Samuel Maluleka, advertising assistant director said.
“The new by-laws will provide transparency in its regulatory affairs and enable predictability by all role players and stakeholders in a bid to foster balanced investment drives.”
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