Ekurhuleni aims to tackle illegal outdoor advertising
All advertisers are requested to check with the city's authorities on the legitimacy of the billboards where their brands and products are advertised.
All outdoor advertising agencies, media owners, buyers and brand captains are asked to take note that several critical matters need urgent attention.
This is according to Kgopolo Hollo, MMC of Infrastructure Services and Real Estate.
“Among the observed is the matter of revenue collection stemming from the utilisation of outdoor advertising billboards erected particularly on the city’s land,” said Hollo.
“We are bringing Operation Thuntha Lerole as a zero tolerance to illegality.”
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He said that he is aware of some of the undesirable behaviour associated with outdoor advertising and that all interested and affected parties within the industry should be aware of it.
“The behaviour seeks to support media owners who have owned and illegally erected advertising medium throughout the length and breadth of the city.”
These billboards are placed on every piece of land, whether it is held by a private party or the government.
“To this end, revenue that is supposed to accrue through outdoor advertising applications or through outdoor advertising rentals to the city is unlawfully withheld by wilful acts of these unscrupulous behavior,” he said.
The CoE, according to Hollo, has taken the position that following the law and conducting business within the parameters of outdoor advertising must become second nature.
As a result, the city has requested that all property owners and advertisers (brand captains) work with it to put an end to the illegal erection of these advertising signs.
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According to Hollo, the city has reached the point where only lawful billboards and other forms of advertising will be permitted to operate going forward, while the illegal ones will be removed from city property and infrastructure.
All advertisers are requested to check with the city’s authorities on the legitimacy of the billboards where their brands and products are advertised.
Property owners and advertisers who will continue and willingly place their ads on any identified illegal advertising structures/billboards, shall be held liable in any form the city deems fit from now henceforth.
