No heed paid to municipal by-laws

Lawless business owners and individuals are wreaking havoc on municipal structures by plastering their advertisements on every imaginable service, often with glue that leave residue on these surfaces for months on end. Although the by-laws regarding these acts are crystal clear, no heed is paid, and most unfortunately, no action against perpetrators are taken by Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM). The by-laws published by MLM states that any person who displays or erects any advertisement or sign for which no approval has been granted by the Council, which approval has expired, has been withdrawn, or which advertisement or sign does not conform with the approved application or any of its conditions, or does not comply with or is contrary to any provision of these by-laws or to any other applicable Act or Regulation, shall be guilty of an offence. Any person who displays or erects any advertisement or sign which contravenes or fails to comply with any provision, requirements or conditions as set out in any notice issued and served in terms of these by-laws or other applicable legislation, or who knowingly makes any false statement in respect of any application in terms of these by-laws, shall be guilty of an offence.

The Council may serve notice on the person/s who is displaying the advertisement to recover the expenses incurred as a result of any removal, action taken, repairs to Council property or for any other costs incurred from any person(s) to whom the notice was issued. No compensation shall be payable by the Council to any persons in consequence of such removal, repairs or action taken. Any person who fails to remove any poster, banner, flag or election advertisement within the prescribed period shall be guilty of an offence. Provided further that when any such poster, banner or election advertisement is removed in terms of these by-laws, the Council shall be entitled to destroy any such advertisement without giving notice to anyone.

Any person who, in the course of erecting or removing any advertising sign, causes damage to
any natural feature, electric structure or service, or any other Council installation or property,
shall be guilty of an offence and punishable in terms of section 15 of these by-laws and shall be
liable for damages so incurred. Any form of bill-sticking by means of posters or placards to any existing structure without the approval of the Council contravenes the by-laws. Any person who contravenes any provision of these by-laws shall be guilty of an offence and liable, upon conviction, to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or both the fine and the imprisonment. At the time of publication, MLM spokesperson, Mandla Zwane, simply ignored the enquiry submitted by the Tribune ePaper.