Despite allocating R400 000 to clean streets and walls of illegal posters for penis enlargements and abortions, the Buffalo City Metro appears to be fighting a losing battle.
During a council meeting on Tuesday, a report was tabled about the appalling state of East London’s central business district (CBD), which has driven businesses to flee the area for the suburbs.
The report was initially requested by senior ANC councillor Sindiswa Gomba in March.
At the time she raised concern about the poor enforcement of laws in relation to the penis enlargement and abortion posters pasted on municipal property, an increase in illegal taverns and taxi ranks, uncontrolled growth in churches, and business premises doubling as residential properties.
She described it as a “ticking time bomb”.
Responding to Gomba’s questions, acting city manager Nceba Ncunyana said in the report: “With regard to the CBD, the directorate was allocated R400000 during the mid-year budget 2015-16 adjustment to cleanse the area of the illegal posters.
“The funding has been spent on cleaning Oxford Street from Fleet Street to Belgravia, Oxford Street from Belgravia to Devereux Avenue and lastly Fleet Street.”
Despite having a bylaw in relation to outdoor advertising, adopted by council in 2009 and gazetted in 2010, the metro still faces challenges.
When the Daily Dispatch visited some of the areas yesterday, the illegal posters were seen pasted on walls, electricity poles and even on trees.
“The bylaw is being enforced, but the problem is with the illegal posters on lamp posts, electric boxes, bridges and walls.
“These posters are pasted after hours when the offices are closed.
“The directorate would at times get a report from solid waste staff that the culprits were seen at about 1am pasting these posters,” Ncunyana said.
As a result the directorate has resolved to include the cleaning of the CBD in a “Back-to-Basics project”, which will be multidisciplinary.
The problem has seen the departments of health and public safety, economic development, spatial planning and developments and infrastructure mostly affected.
Ncunyana added that attempts to catch the perpetrators had been fruitless.
“The posters only have cellphone numbers and no addresses, and it becomes very difficult to get hold of the perpetrators. The department has tried many times to apprehend them by pretending to want an abortion but they would ask to meet at a scheduled place and they become suspicious and don’t show up,” Ncunyana said.
Adding to the metro’s problems was the non-availability of role players to conduct ongoing joint operations.
Poster problem won’t go away
During a council meeting on Tuesday, a report was tabled about the appalling state of East London’s central business district (CBD), which has driven businesses to flee the area for the suburbs.
The report was initially requested by senior ANC councillor Sindiswa Gomba in March.
At the time she raised concern about the poor enforcement of laws in relation to the penis enlargement and abortion posters pasted on municipal property, an increase in illegal taverns and taxi ranks, uncontrolled growth in churches, and business premises doubling as residential properties.
She described it as a “ticking time bomb”.
Responding to Gomba’s questions, acting city manager Nceba Ncunyana said in the report: “With regard to the CBD, the directorate was allocated R400000 during the mid-year budget 2015-16 adjustment to cleanse the area of the illegal posters.
“The funding has been spent on cleaning Oxford Street from Fleet Street to Belgravia, Oxford Street from Belgravia to Devereux Avenue and lastly Fleet Street.”
Despite having a bylaw in relation to outdoor advertising, adopted by council in 2009 and gazetted in 2010, the metro still faces challenges.
When the Daily Dispatch visited some of the areas yesterday, the illegal posters were seen pasted on walls, electricity poles and even on trees.
“The bylaw is being enforced, but the problem is with the illegal posters on lamp posts, electric boxes, bridges and walls.
“These posters are pasted after hours when the offices are closed.
“The directorate would at times get a report from solid waste staff that the culprits were seen at about 1am pasting these posters,” Ncunyana said.
As a result the directorate has resolved to include the cleaning of the CBD in a “Back-to-Basics project”, which will be multidisciplinary.
The problem has seen the departments of health and public safety, economic development, spatial planning and developments and infrastructure mostly affected.
Ncunyana added that attempts to catch the perpetrators had been fruitless.
“The posters only have cellphone numbers and no addresses, and it becomes very difficult to get hold of the perpetrators. The department has tried many times to apprehend them by pretending to want an abortion but they would ask to meet at a scheduled place and they become suspicious and don’t show up,” Ncunyana said.
Adding to the metro’s problems was the non-availability of role players to conduct ongoing joint operations.
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