Residents slam JMPD over Toolbox banner confiscation
While JMPD cites illegal advertising by-laws, the community questions why illegal ads, street vendors, and vagrants remain untouched.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has come under fire from residents following its decision to confiscate banners belonging to the Toolbox Empowerment Hub during a clean-up operation on Hendrik Potgieter Road.
Many in the community feel that JMPD selectively enforces municipal by-laws, allowing illegal advertising, street vendors, and vagrants to remain unchecked while cracking down on their initiative.
Also read: Toolbox workers lead successful clean-up
On Saturday, March 29, Toolbox Hub team members were setting up banners when JMPD officers impounded them, citing a violation of the City of Johannesburg’s Outdoor Advertising By-laws.
The banners, according to Toolbox Hub manager Andrew Holdsworth, were not for advertising but to indicate to security companies that the team is authorised to work in the area.
Also read: Toolbox revives local park
He also maintained that they were placed on private land owned by Toyota, not municipal property.
“We are trying to upgrade the area where the council is lacking in services, yet we get obstructed by it,” said Holdsworth. “We are not the enemy here. We are trying, as a residents’ association, to work together with law enforcement to get the area where it should be.”
Adding to the frustration, the Toolbox team says they do not know where their banners are or what steps they need to take to reclaim them.
Meanwhile, residents point out that numerous illegal advertising banners, posters, and signs remain scattered around Hendrik Potgieter Road and across the city, yet JMPD has not taken action against them.
In response, JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla defended the officers’ actions, stating that the banners were in violation of advertising regulations and needed to be removed. He acknowledged that the department faces challenges in enforcing by-laws consistently due to resource constraints, but insisted that they are working on improving enforcement.
“It is not the intention of the JMPD to target community-driven initiatives but to enforce the by-laws as laid out by the city,” said Fihla. “We understand the frustration and concerns raised, and we are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure fair and consistent application of our by-laws.”
JMPD has encouraged Toolbox Hub and other organisations to reach out to the By-Laws Management Unit or the Department of Development Planning’s Outdoor Advertising Unit for guidance on compliant advertising practices.
