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“The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality considers the juvenile posters plastered across town, declaring Executive Mayor Gary van Niekerk as missing, in a serious light and will throw the book at the pranksters.”
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Human Settlements, Thembinkosi Mafana, issued this stringent warning, saying that the transgressors can face fines up to R3 000 for failure to follow the correct procedures pertained in the municipal outdoor advertising policy.
However, the fines do not include potential litigation by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
“Firstly, I would like to assure the public that Executive Mayor Gary van Niekerk is hard at work for our city and is safe," said Mafana.
“Besides the message being a childish attempt to stir, it is undesirable as municipal lamp poles are currently used by political parties for electioneering. As per agreement with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) we relax our bylaws to allow political parties to compete fairly for outdoor advertising space.
“We therefore cannot allow the illegal occupation of advertising space, meant for political parties, to be used by pranksters."
In addition, Mafana said that if those responsible, do not take responsibility – which they strongly suspect in this case – the illegal posters will end up on landfill sites.
He said that he instructed the Executive Director of Human Settlements, Tabiso Mfeya, to investigate the matter and take the necessary actions, if and when required.
The municipal outdoor advertising bylaws are as follows:
1. Displaying an unauthorized sign - R1 000 fine
2. Display[ing] a sign without consent granted by the municipality in terms of section 9 or under section 10 of the bylaw - R1 000 fine
3. Failure to remove or cease to display the sign, that is found to be undesirable - R1000 fine
Mafana said that members of the public with information regarding the identity of those responsible for erecting the posters, can call the Metro Police at 041 585 1555.
