Graffiti defaces city
Graffiti is called art by those who do it but legally it is considered vandalism.
POLOKWANE – Graffiti is called art by those who do it but legally it is considered vandalism.
Polokwane police spokesperson, Capt Ntobeng Phala last week warned that anybody caught painting graffiti on any property that did not belong to them, could end up having a criminal record for vandalism.
Phala said vandals enjoyed a lot of freedom in the city as it was rare that this vandalism was reported to the police, and even if it was reported, it was difficult to catch the culprit.
Graffiti is allowed, however, when the owner of the property on which the graffiti will be painted, has given permission for the graffiti to be done.
Municipal spokesperson, Matshidiso Mothapo, said the municipality did ensure that graffiti defacing municipal property was removed. However, this could only be done if the vandalism was reported.
Marietjie Bothma, a resident, said she thought graffiti could be uplifting in some instances, when it was used correctly. Some areas where graffiti was done legally and proved to be positive was on the wall in Magazyn Street near the SANBS and the Rethabile Clinic, the dam wall near Laerskool Pietersburg-Oos and some city landmarks such as the train in Landdros Maré Street that was painted for the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. The graffiti in these places deliver positive messages to those who read them
Incidents of vandalism can be reported to the municipality at (015) 290 2000.
