Illegal outdoor advertising has become a growing concern to residents of Vorna Valley.
According to the chairperson of Vorna Valley Residents Association, Marianne Nel, the association has been removing illegal advertising from their streets. However, they get erected again, shortly after being removed. “We take them down weekly but they are always put up again.”
One of the alleged illegal advertisers is property company Riverbend Estates, whose boards are erected on poles and signs put up along the roads in the Vorna Valley and Kyalami areas.
“We have taken down a 150 Riverbend boards but they just keep coming back,” added Nel.
Marketer for Riverbend Estates, Adriaan Louw, said the matter would be investigated. “I will contact the person working in the area and find out what is happening. I will meet with him on 6 July and give feedback,” promised Louw.
Spokesperson for Metro police Edna Mamonyane said illegal advertisers do get fined when identified. “People are supposed to apply at the City to advertise and pay for the space. If it’s companies we can identify, we remove the boards and charge them,” she said.
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Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe said that with the budget set aside for operational costs and the additional number of Metro police recruited, she hopes that the situation will improve. “The development companies know that there are loopholes and know that they can get away with it because there is not enough bylaw policing taking place. But, hopefully, that will all change now,” she said.
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