eThekwini begins removing election posters, parties fined

The eThekwini Municipality’s Publicity Department has begun removing election campaign materials from electricity pylons and other municipal infrastructure.

The municipality announced that political parties had to remove election posters within 30 days of the election date.

“As of July 1, 2024, signage inspectors will be actively removing these posters and will issue fines to political parties once the process is complete,” the municipality said in a statement.

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Political parties and independent candidates were allowed to hang up a maximum of 800 posters per district.

The council will impose a fine of R1,193.00 for each poster removed by the General Advertising Department, the city said.

Last week, City Manager Musa Mbhele said: “We are governed by a council resolution on the removal of election posters. This will also help keep the city clean as some posters have blown off street poles and others are hanging dangerously,” he said.

Mbhele urged political parties to adhere to the bylaws set by the municipality.

“The resolution is clear: posters must be removed 30 days after the elections,” Mbhele said.

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Sagren Naicker, acting manager of general advertising at the Department of Development Planning, said the rule also applies to political parties that have been given permission to advertise on the highways and along the coast, solely for election purposes.