Crackdown on illegal freeway signs

THE CITY of Ekurhuleni has finally started with the removal of some of the 3 000 illegal billboards and advertising signs along the N12/ Albertina Sisulu (formerly R24) freeway.

This follows complaints from irate residents, the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) and some of its own internal departments. Now, the municipality is going out to tender to appoint a company to assist with the removal of the illegal signs of all unapproved billboards and slap a R200 000 fine on those infringing the by-laws.

On Thursday, the city removed a 37.5m2 billboard illegally erected along the N12/ R24 split in Bedfordview.

“The structure was erected without municipal permission along the national road and the city could not trace its owner. It also posed a danger to motorists as it was on a shallow and poorly constructed foundation, supported by tie ropes,” said spokesperson Themba Gadebe.

The structure was an accident waiting to happen as it could easily have blown over onto the road, causing a major accident that could claim innocent lives or cause serious injury, he added.

“Ekurhuleni condemns the infringement of by-laws and warns law-breakers that the city will come down hard on them,” said Gadebe.

Offenders found to be illegally erecting structures that have not been approved by the municipality will be slapped with heavy fines, he warned.

This follows an article published in The Star last month in which Sanral slammed Ekurhuleni over the numerous illegal billboards the municipality had approved on bridges and along freeways.

Sanral spokesperson Vusi Mona said at the time that the agency had written to the city manager pointing out the many transgressions, but had not been able to have a meeting on the matter with him. He said they had engaged with the officials in the advertising department a number of times, pointing out the transgressions, without success.

Sanral had issued warnings and removal notices as is required in terms of the Sanral Act, which had been ignored, Mona said.

A huge 900m2 billboard erected at the Gillooly’s interchange caused outrage after Ekurhuleni approved it without Sanral’s permission.

@annacox