The City of Johannesburg (COJ) has begun removing illegal outdoor advertising around the CBD.
The COJ urged media owners and outdoor advertising agencies not to support companies operating without proper approval as it intensifies efforts to clamp down on illegal outdoor advertising across the city.
A large-scale enforcement operation began at Bryanston Shopping Centre and moved along Winnie Mandela Drive toward Sandton, where about 10 illegal billboards were identified, with several taken down.
Some of the signs removed had previously been disconnected from the electricity grid by City Power two weeks ago due to illegal connections and were later found to have been unlawfully reconnected.
The operation was conducted jointly by multiple entities, including Johannesburg Property Company, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, City of Johannesburg Development Planning and the Johannesburg Roads Agency.
Johannesburg Property Company CEO Musah Makunga said the City is working to ensure full compliance with by-laws by all partners and stakeholders.
“We are out here making sure that the people we do business with follow the rules of the City of Johannesburg. Behind me is an illegal site, a billboard erected without following the by-laws. We also dealt with a digital billboard owned by an entity that does have a lease with us, but which had illegally connected its electricity,” said Makunga.
Makunga added that a growing number of illegal billboards have been identified around Sandton and urged media owners to approach the City for proper application procedures.
Executive Director for Development Planning Eric Raboshakga said many properties hosting illegal signs are neglected.
“The sign we are removing today is on a neglected property. Owners are making money from the structure, yet the site itself is abandoned, which affects surrounding properties and the City as a whole,” he said.
Raboshakga emphasised the need for lawful applications and responsible property maintenance.
“We urge property owners to follow the proper legal process when applying for signage and to keep their properties well maintained, so that business activities can generate employment while preserving a clean environment,” he said.
Raboshakga further said: “Operations will continue throughout the week to identify and remove additional illegal signs, noting that many pose safety risks due to their brightness or proximity to intersections.
“We urge media owners and outdoor advertising agencies not to support companies operating without approval.”