The City of Ekurhuleni has continued demolition operations at the illegal billboard at Gillooly’s Farm in Bedfordview, following a lengthy legal battle over the structure.

As previously reported by Bedfordview Edenvale News, the city’s Development Planning and Real Estate Department began dismantling the billboard on Monday (May 11) as part of ongoing efforts to enforce compliance and remove unlawful structures.

Bedfordview Edenvale News reports that Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza oversaw the operation that started yesterday (May 12), and the municipality will continue to act against by-law transgressions.

According to city, the billboard stood at the Gillooly’s interchange for more than 10 years without the required compliance certificates.

The matter has been before the courts since 2014, with the dispute eventually reaching the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Xhakaza says the city spent more than R2m in legal fees pursuing the matter and is seeking ways to recover the costs.

The municipality is also pursuing the recovery of about R20m in rental fees that are allegedly owed for the years that the billboard was in place.

The mayor says the city will continue monitoring compliance with municipal by-laws and urges property owners and businesses operating outside regulations to engage with the municipality to avoid similar action.

Work at the site is expected to continue until all debris has been removed.