Business owners reject new signage bylaw

Ballito business owners are hot under the collar about the new KwaDukuza municipality outdoor advertising signage bylaws.

They made their voices heard at an outdoor advertising briefing, headed by KDM department of economic development and planning officials, on Wednesday, April 22 at the Ilembe Chamber building in Ballito.

The building department’s Amanda Mbokozi was frequently interrupted during her presentation and Ilembe Chamber CEO, Cobus Oelofse, had to maintain order.

The KDM uniform outdoor advertising policy was advertised in local newspapers on August 19, 2009. Only one public comment was received and the policy was adopted in 2010, although not enforced.

Executive director of economic development and planning, Sikhumbuzo Hlongwane said the reason KDM has not enforced the bylaw before, was that they did not have enough staff to do the job. He said they have however in the meantime increased their capacity for enforcement.

Between April 17 and May 9, 2013, the amendment of the outdoor advertising bylaw was advertised in local newspapers but no comment was received from the public and so the bylaws were gazetted on July 4, 2013.

Hlongwane blamed Ballito residents’ apathy for being “caught off guard” by the new bylaw.

“People should attend public meetings so that they know what is going on,” he said.

Hlongwane went on to say that KDM was open to dialogue and encouraged business people to engage with them.

“We are not a municipality that wants to kill business and are open to engage with the community regarding the new bylaws,” he said.

He said they had already made certain concessions to accommodate property agents.

Ballito Estates’ Barbara Shingler was unhappy that existing advertising boards were not exempt from the new bylaws and Ballito Accommodation’s Clint Markham protested that private building owners will have to pay to put signage on their own buildings, advertising their own private business.

“This is an infringement on our personal space,” said Markham.

At the briefing, application forms and a breakdown of the tariff of charges for 2014/15 were handed out. Hlongwane encouraged business owners to comment on the charges and reminded the meeting that the bylaw will come into effect on July 1.

“The sooner you apply, the better,” said KDM senior manager for building control and advertising, Thandeka Thwala.

KwaDukuza municipal officials who can be contacted for more information are: Amanda Mbokazi on 032-525-8611 (amandam@kwadukuza.gov.za) or Lindani Mngoma on 032-437-5068 (Lindanin@kwadukuza.gov.za).