The City of Ekurhuleni says it is losing an estimated R10m in potential revenue due to illegal outdoor advertising across the metro, prompting a by-law enforcement blitz in Boksburg earlier this month.

The operation, led by the then MMC for City Planning and Real Estate Nomadlozi Nkosi on February 13, targeted high-impact billboards along Kingfisher Avenue and Trichardts Road in Sunward Park.
Four illegal structures were identified, all of which were defaced in accordance with Section 56(6) of the municipality’s Outdoor Advertising By-law. Compliance notices had been issued to the owners prior to the enforcement action.

The city said the R10m figure represents potential revenue over a five-year period, based on application fees, inspection fees, monthly advertising tariffs, and lease fees that would normally apply to legal structures.
Nkosi urged advertisers to ensure that any billboard they intend to use complies with municipal regulations.

“The city invites potential participants in outdoor advertising to submit applications for technical compliance approval prior to erecting advertising signs, as prescribed by the city’s by-laws for outdoor advertising,” she said.

Owners of existing advertising signs were also advised to verify the legality of their structures by contacting the municipality.
While there is currently no publicly accessible database of approved outdoor advertising sites, internal records are maintained and approximately 50 applications are pending finalisation. The city commits to a 90-day turnaround for high-impact applications, with other categories varying according to complexity.

The metro said enforcement will continue, led by a dedicated compliance team conducting regular inspections and joint enforcement blitzes.
Measures include issuing compliance notices, defacing or removing illegal structures, and strengthening interdepartmental coordination.

No revenue has yet been recovered through fines or penalties this financial year, as enforcement actions have focused on compliance and removal rather than revenue collection.

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