Concerns over illegal outdoor advertising in Fourways have reignited long-standing issues within the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), with a former residents’ association committee member pointing to a public protector (PP) agreement signed more than a decade ago that warned of systemic failures still evident today.

Nick Human, formerly involved with the Parktown North Residents Association, as well as the Saxonwold and Parkwood Residents Association, said reading a recent Fourways Review article on illegal advertising across the suburb rang a bell about unresolved complaints dating back to 2014.

Read more: Six months later, City of Johannesburg fails to deliver promised outdoor advertising audit

At the time, Human and other residents’ representatives lodged a formal complaint with the public protector, arguing that the City of Johannesburg was contravening its own outdoor advertising by-laws by allowing widespread illegal signage to proliferate across the city.

The resulting public protector agreement, seen by Fourways Review, dated 2014, found that the city’s outdoor advertising department was unable to fulfil its mandate due to being understaffed, under-resourced, and effectively collapsed as a regulatory entity.

The agreement outlined several corrective actions, including the drafting of a comprehensive outdoor advertising strategy, the implementation of enforcement plans, the issuing of notices of breach to lessees contravening lease agreements, and the capacitation of the relevant city departments.

Both parties further agreed that the City of Johannesburg would finalise and approve revised outdoor advertising by-laws by May 2018.

These historical concerns mirror current frustrations among residents. Months after the city promised to conduct a metro-wide outdoor advertising audit, residents are still waiting for action. This follows Fourways Review raising the alarm over illegal adverts mushrooming along major routes, such as Witkoppen Road and Winnie Mandela Drive.

Also read: Cllr demands action on illegal billboard construction

City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane confirmed that only two officials are currently responsible for monitoring and enforcing outdoor advertising compliance across the entire metro, a figure unchanged since August last year.

According to Modingoane, the officials are tasked with responding to complaints, conducting surveillance to identify illegal signage, issuing contraventions, and recommending rates penalties for violations on private property. They also conduct desktop investigations to confirm the legal status of identified advertising signs.

To mitigate capacity constraints, the city arranged collaboration with JMPD. “The JMPD support, once we are alert of the illegality happening, is called in urgently to stop the illegal construction and the process of law enforcement will start,” Modingoane said.

However, he acknowledged that capacity challenges persist. “Additional capacity is still being worked on by the department.”

Modingoane confirmed that the long-promised outdoor advertising audit has yet to begin. “However, the plan is underway. It is a process that involves supply chain management to outsource the services. The process is required to ensure compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act.”

He said the audit is expected to take place this year, with the outcomes to be made public via city platforms.

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