Amid rising service delivery issues, illegal billboard still have a place, says Ward 93 councillor
Even though residents say potholes and water and electricity outages are more important, there's still a place for the fight against illegal billboards, especially since the money raised from legal ones could go back into service delivery.
Illegal advertising structures are just as important to address as other service delivery issues.
This is according to Ward 93 councillor Vino Reddy, who says he is using his position to tackle the growing problem across the city. Reddy warned that the absence of effective enforcement of advertising by-laws is costing the city significant revenue.
“There’s been a proliferation of advertising signs and billboards on private and municipal land, most of it illegal. The revenue being generated is considerable, and the city is losing out.”
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He said the large billboards at busy intersections, including along Winnie Mandela Drive and Maiden Road, obstruct visibility for motorists. This is a safety concern. “These signs create walls. The by-law states you must have a clear line of sight, including what’s behind fences, for safety.”
He added that some adverts even mimic traffic signal colours, creating confusion. “You’ll find red, yellow, or green used in ways that are contrary to regulations, which can compromise how drivers respond to actual traffic lights.”
While some residents have questioned the focus on illegal signage amid ongoing infrastructure challenges, Reddy insists the city cannot afford to ignore any issue. “People say, ‘Why worry about signs when roads and pipes are a mess?’. The reality is we need to address everything. We can’t fix it all at once, but we must restore order where we can.”
The crackdown forms part of a broader cleaner city initiative, aimed at improving compliance and urban management. Reddy recently participated in a joint Section 9 committee meeting, involving various city authorities, where the challenges of removing illegal structures was discussed. He said the sheer size of these billboards makes them difficult to dismantle.
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“These are massive structures, often installed using heavy-duty trucks carrying up to 30t. The city doesn’t currently have the resources or equipment to remove them easily.”
He added that funding constraints remain a major hurdle, saying that the city needs either municipal investment or the appointment of contractors to assist with removals. “If the structures remain, the illegal signs will keep coming back. Remove the structure, and you stop the cycle.”
Investigations have revealed that many of these billboards are erected under the radar, often over weekends or completed at night.
“Crews claim to have the necessary permits, but, in most cases, they don’t. Proper way-leaves and planning permissions are required, and residents need to start asking questions. If we don’t act, these structures will continue to go up. It’s up to all of us to ensure accountability.”
The City of Johannesburg, and the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), encouraged private property owners to approach development planning for compliance when considering any outdoor advertising activities.
“Property owners and interested parties must apply for the necessary permissions and rights before erecting any advertising structures,” JPC spokesperson Lucky Sindane said.
“This applies equally to both City-owned and privately-owned land. No structure may be erected, nor advertising conducted, without the required consent.”
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