Broken window theory – fix the small things to avoid larger problems in society
Harmful illegal advertising along almost every street is not just an eyesore, it's dangerous to communities.
‘Safe’ abortions, penis enlargements and instant riches are some of the services offered in many adverts placed on City infrastructure around Northcliff.
“Guerrilla marketing and illegal advertising is a pandemic in the city and harms neighbourhoods. Communities should be safe, secure, and not inundated by crime, grime, and harmful advertising such as posters offering 30-minute abortions,” said Justin Jones, a local property developer, and former city planner.
He believed in the broken-window theory, where a city that deals with small things, like illegal advertising, creates an atmosphere of order and lawfulness. “The fact that most of these posters are stuck on city infrastructure, like substations and light poles, shows the municipality is not taking by-law infringements seriously.”
JMPD spokesperson, Xolani Fihla explained that no outdoor advertising is permitted without the approval of the City. “The owner of an advertising sign and/or the owner of the property on which the approved sign is to be erected must ensure that it is designed or located so as not to contradict the outdoor advertising by-laws.”
André Swanepoel, who helped launch Community Cleaners which operates in Northcliff and surrounding areas, is also on a crusade to remove illegal advertising.
He says part of the strategy to clean up shared open spaces is to remove illegal signs that do not have permission from the City. Signs with the required yellow sticker on display which has a barcode and a reference number are left untouched.
“It is illegal to place any advert or signage on traffic lights or traffic signs and it is illegal to erect any poster within 100 m of an intersection, or, on any trees,” says Swanepoel.
He has removed estate agent signs which were in breach of by-laws, saying, “Estate agents may have one board on the pavement in front of the property they are selling, and on show days they may have eight directional pointer boards which need to be erected and removed on the same day. Signs, for example, that advertise area specialist estate agents must be removed unless they have the requisite stickers and permissions.”
Visit www.joburg.org.za to find outdoor advertising by-laws and application forms.
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