City of Joburg to fine political parties for unremoved election campaign posters

With the national elections concluded, the City of Johannesburg is requesting all political parties to remove their election posters by Wednesday, June 12. According to the City, political parties are responsible for taking down their election campaign posters.

Failure to comply will result in fines of R500 for each election poster that remains attached to street poles and other locations after the 14-day grace period. This directive is grounded in Section 28 of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality Outdoor Advertising by-laws (2009).

Legal Framework and Responsibilities

City spokesperson Virgil James emphasized that political parties who participated and displayed posters and related election materials for their campaigns did so under the provisions of the said by-laws. According to these by-laws:

All election posters must be removed by the person or party displaying them within fourteen days after the conclusion of the election or voter registration.
If not removed within this period, the Council will notify the relevant party to remove the posters within a specified time.
Should the party fail to comply, the Council may remove the posters itself and charge the party a fee of R500 per poster.

Aesthetic Concerns

James highlighted that during election seasons, the city’s electric light poles are often covered in campaign posters, which can make the streets look cluttered and unsightly if left unchecked. This is why Section 28’s rules are strictly enforced.

Enforcement

In his statement, James noted that the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police By-law Unit would be responsible for removing and collecting posters of political parties that fail to comply with the removal request. These parties will then be fined according to the prescribed fee.

This initiative underscores the city’s commitment to maintaining a clean and visually appealing environment while ensuring that political parties adhere to local regulations regarding campaign materials.