Naked non-compliance in city billboard advert crackdown
Naked Insurance has distanced itself from an allegedly illegal outdoor advertisement removed by the City of Johannesburg, as officials accuse the media owner of defying municipal enforcement by reinstalling the advert.
Naked Insurance has come under the spotlight following the removal, and alleged reinstallation, of an outdoor advertising board along Winnie Mandela Drive, as the City of Johannesburg intensifies its crackdown on illegal advertising across Fourways.
After Fourways Review approached Naked for comment, the company said it rents outdoor advertising space through established media owners and does not manage regulatory approvals directly.
Read more: Johannesburg Property Company cracks down on illegal outdoor advertising
Marlé Prinsloo, from Naked Marketing Communication Insights, explained: “We rent our outdoor advertising space through reputable media owners, who are responsible for securing the necessary regulatory approvals and permits for the sites they own and operate.
“We are engaging with our media partner to confirm the facts surrounding this specific site and to minimise the risk of similar issues arising.”
Prinsloo added that Centrefold Media, the outdoor media owner linked to the site, would be best placed to respond to questions around approvals and permitting. However, the City of Johannesburg has taken a firm stance, alleging a serious breach of municipal by-laws linked to the same advertising structure.
In a statement, the city said the Naked-branded advert, associated with Centrefold Media, was reinstalled after it had already been lawfully removed during an authorised enforcement operation last week.
Also read: Six months later, City of Johannesburg fails to deliver promised outdoor advertising audit
“The city regards the reinstallation of the advert as a wilful act of non-compliance and defiance of lawful enforcement, executed with full knowledge that the advertising was unauthorised.”
The city further described the incident as a repeat offence and an aggravating factor under municipal enforcement frameworks.
As a result, the city has initiated escalated enforcement measures, which may include statutory penalties for non-compliance, further investigations to determine accountability across all responsible parties, and consideration of removing the outdoor advertising structure itself, should it be found to be unlawful or repeatedly used to violate by-laws.
@caxtonjoburgnorth JPC CEO Musah Makhunga explains a multi-agency operation on Winnie Mandela Drive, where the City of Johannesburg is removing illegally erected outdoor advertising billboards as part of a broader compliance and revenue protection campaign led by JMPD and other city entities. Video: Ayanda Ntshingila #caxtonlocalmedia #Localnews #News #Community #Fourways #Fyp #johannesburg #JMPD #servicedelivery ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
Fourways Review reached out to Ridwaan Mohamed, director of Centrefold Media, for comment. More information will be published once it becomes available.
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