Amendments to advertising bylaws imminent
HONEYDEW RIDGE – Amendments to advertising bylaws will soon be released for public comment.
Metro police officers hit the streets of Ward 97 with the aim of removing illegal advertising before the bylaws are amended.
The intersection of Taylor and Paul Kruger roads was the main target for Metro police.
Three illegal advertising trailers were logged for removal and the trailers’ towbars were also removed.
In a separate bylaw enforcement sweep, five illegal structures were demolished in Ruimsig informal settlement and 30 illegal posters were removed along Hendrik Potgieter Road.
According to Sharon Peetz, MMC for Economic Development for the City of Johannesburg, a review of outdoor advertising bylaws was circulated for comment by the legal and contracts directorate of Johannesburg Property Company and her department.
It will be presented to the mayoral committee and city council in March to allow for the draft to be published for public comment.
The period for public comment is scheduled to run during April.
The new bylaws will then be sent back to the city council for final approval in either May or June. According to Peetz, the City would likely have new bylaws by 1 July for implementation.
Additionally, the directorate committed to form and chair a task team assigned to develop a plan to interdict habitual illegal advertising offenders.
Ward 97 councillor Leah Knott said, “The bylaws task team will come into play with the approved bylaws which are [being amended] as well as the implementation of the municipal courts at the end of March.
“This will affect repeat offenders the most. I know people use advertising as a way to get their brand across and to source new work, but they’re following the inexpensive means of doing so which is illegal advertising at the expense of the City and its residents, both aesthetically and in terms of loss of City revenue. I understand we all need to make money and increase the scope of our businesses, but it must be done within the bylaws.”
Details: Illegal advertising can be reported to Metro police on 011 375 5911.
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