With grease-stained hands, standing amid the remnants of illegal billboard structures on Winnie Mandela Drive, Ward 93 councillor Vino Reddy looked every bit the hands-on official in the ongoing battle against unlawful advertising.
This is a fight he has been waging since last year, and while he has celebrated some victories, stopping construction in action and calling authorities to intervene, the challenges continue. “This is an abandoned site where construction was stopped and contractors were halted. Across the road, we can see a destroyed base and another partially demolished. Unfortunately, one structure was completed, it was built in less than a week, mostly overnight.”
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Reddy said while authorities were able to halt the installation of the signage itself, the supporting structures remain. “We got the city and Gauteng province to stop the installation of the billboard sign itself, but unfortunately the structure still stands.
“I believe one of the major issues, and a major constraint for both the city and province, is that they lack the tools and capacity to remove these structures.
“I do feel they need to be properly equipped with the vehicles and tools to remove these structures, because if it’s hard enough to install them, it’s even harder to take them down.
“The equipment required is massive, and I think we should urge the city to capacitate the by-law management unit (BMU) so they can remove them. Taking them down completely will send a much stronger message to those installing illegal signs that this can no longer be tolerated.”
Highlighting the progress already made, Reddy acknowledged the city’s efforts, while stressing that more needs to be done. “If we look up and down Winnie Mandela Drive, we’ve seen that the city, together with the BMU, has removed many billboard signs, and I thank them for that, but it’s still not enough. We need to do more to eradicate the scourge of illegal billboards, and removing the structures completely is the best way to do it.”
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The councillor also stressed the importance of finalising the outdoor advertising by-law. “Without it, many of the provisions in the new by-law cannot be implemented. One major example is billboards overhanging onto a fuel carriageway or a major arterial road.
“These new illuminated billboards present a major safety hazard to motorists because of their proximity to the road. The illumination and constantly changing advertising signs can also blind drivers, and we need to keep our roads safe.”
He acknowledged the city’s income from outdoor advertising, but emphasised responsible implementation. “I understand that outdoor advertising generates income for the city, but we have to do it safely and responsibly. By implementing the by-law, we can resolve many of these issues.
“This is a fight we have been fighting for a long time. We’ve seen some victories, but we need to continue. Removing the illegal structures completely, and finalising the by-law, will ensure we send a strong message and make our roads safer for everyone.”
The city’s spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane has been contacted for comment. An update will be provided once available.
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