The City of Johannesburg’s Development Planning Department has declared war on all illegal advertising boards and signs that have been erected in the City. The City will embark on an extensive campaign to tear down and destroy all illegal signage found to be in contravention of the City’s by-laws. Media owners are encouraged to confirm the status of their advertising signs with the Development Planning Department’s Outdoor Advertising Unit to ensure they follow the City’s by-laws on outdoor advertising. The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Development Planning in City of Johannesburg, Cllr Eunice Mgcina, says that despite the City’s efforts to engage illegal advertisers, there is still a considerable number of unscrupulous media owners who have put up illegal advertising signs on public and private land without Council approval as required by the City of Johannesburg’s Outdoor Advertising By-laws.
“For some time now, we have been plagued by illegal advertising signs of various forms. This is concerning and cannot be tolerated because the City is losing millions of rand in advertising revenue because of these illegal advertising boards and signs.
“We are really concerned about this lawlessness and based on these concerns and numerous complaints from various ward councillors and other affected parties; we are undertaking site inspections to collate information on illegally erected signs.
“Anyone sign found to be illegal in terms of the City’s advertising sign database and the applicable bylaws, regardless of size and stature, the City shall not hesitate to take the necessary steps within its power to remove them particularly if media owners fail to immediately remedy and comply with the provisions of the applicable bylaw once notified,” said MMC Mgcina.
She added that the City was committed to enforcing its bylaws to ensure strict adherence and timely accrual of lawful revenue owed to the Municipality.
Media owners and interested parties are reminded that the City had reached out to advertisers back in 2019 when outdoor advertising companies were afforded the opportunity to declare their signs regardless of their legal status.
Considering all previous efforts, including the Council’s declaration in 2019, the City has now reached a point where it has adopted a zero-tolerance stance to the lawlessness and every available avenue to achieve this objective will be explored and implemented without fail.
The City, through the Department of Development Planning’s Outdoor Advertising Unit, has established systems to urgently consider all submitted applications and new applications. All applications for outdoor advertising would be provided with outcomes to enable the City to deal decisively with unscrupulous media owners.
In addition, the City is collaborating with all stakeholders (the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, all other state-owned entities, and the courts) to enable the Municipality to restore law and order and ensure that revenue due to the City is realised.
The City calls on brand owners or advertisers and their advertising agencies to contact the City to confirm the legality of any advertising sign before concluding any media contracts and or to desist from the illegal erection of advertising signs and billboards.
“Our message to all advertising entities across the City is clear: comply or we will come after you,” said MMC Mgcina.
Written by Lulama Luti
11/03/2024
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