A dispute has erupted in Fourways after residents of Stratford Gardens Residential Estate halted the construction of a large outdoor advertising billboard that began going up without proper approval.

The structure, which was being erected on land between Stratford Gardens and Stratford Office Park, was initiated by Open Core Media on or around July 7.

Read more: Contractors arrested for illegal billboard

According to residents, no prior notification was given to the estate or its homeowners. Records show that the company had applied for advertising rights with the City of Johannesburg in November 2024, but the application was incomplete, failing to comply with Section 32 requirements, which include community consultation.

A trustee from the Stratford Gardens Home Owners Association (HOA) intervened on the day construction began, ordering workers to stop. Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers were also called to the scene and escorted the construction crew off the property.

Also read: JMPD called after billboard team busted erecting an illegal advert

Only days later, on July 13, a notice appeared on site inviting public objections. The HOA has since lodged formal objections, arguing that the construction remains unlawful and should be removed entirely.

Residents say the controversy has been further complicated by the ownership of the land itself. “According to City of Johannesburg records, the site is registered to Plot 37 Pty Ltd, a company liquidated in 2003. Current Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) records confirm the company remains under liquidation, meaning it cannot lawfully enter into lease agreements. Legal experts point out that any lease purportedly signed for the billboard would have no force or effect,” said one of the residents.

Beyond questions of legality, residents have raised concerns about the environmental and community impact of the structure. The site borders a biodiversity buffer zone, and homeowners say the illuminated billboard would not only be unsightly but also pose a danger to motorists at an already hazardous intersection along Cedar Road. “This sign will negatively impact the surrounding residential area and set a dangerous precedent. Allowing it to stand would send the message that companies can operate outside the law,” said one of the trustees from Stratford Gardens HOA.

According to the residents, and proven in an email, the City of Johannesburg’s Advertising Department has confirmed that the construction was illegal and that internal enforcement action would be taken against Open Core Media. However, it remains unclear what steps have been carried out.

Fourways Review reached out to Open Core Media to get a comment from them, as well as the City of Johannesburg’s Advertising Department, but no response has been received. More information will be provided once it becomes available.

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