{"id":876063,"date":"2026-09-19T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=876063"},"modified":"2026-09-18T14:57:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T12:57:00","slug":"new-crackdown-in-johannesburg-hits-actionsa-the-da-fanta-fnb-coca-cola-webuycars-and-rocomamas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/876063\/new-crackdown-in-johannesburg-hits-actionsa-the-da-fanta-fnb-coca-cola-webuycars-and-rocomamas\/","title":{"rendered":"New crackdown in Johannesburg hits ActionSA, the DA, Fanta, FNB, Coca-Cola, WeBuyCars, and RocoMamas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Johannesburg\u2019s crackdown on illegal outdoor advertising has expanded to political campaign billboards, with advertising for ActionSA and the Democratic Alliance removed in Soweto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This follows similar campaigns that have removed billboards of major companies, including FNB, Coca-Cola, Netflix, WeBuyCars, Fanta and RocoMamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) continued its enforcement operation on 16 September 2026, removing outdoor advertising structures that it said contravene the City of Johannesburg\u2019s bylaws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The latest operation was led by MMC for Economic Development Nomoya Mnisi and MMC for Development Planning Sibongile Mgcina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIllegal outdoor advertising is not just a compliance issue. It also impacts municipal revenue, the management of public spaces, and fair business practices,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the billboards removed in Soweto were advertisements linked to the 2026 Local Government Elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The DA billboard promoted Helen Zille as mayor under the slogan \u201cGet Joburg Working For All\u201d, while the ActionSA billboard promoted Herman Mashaba for mayor with the slogan \u201cLet\u2019s Do It Again\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ActionSA has challenged the removal, alleging that the decision was politically motivated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said the removal demonstrated that Mashaba and the party were a threat to the ANC in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe ANC is being rejected across the city for its prolific failures that have driven the city into the ground,\u201d he said. Beaumont also questioned the role played by the MMCs in the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe fact that this event was led by an ANC MMC, and not municipal officials, is a clear demonstration of what was the driving decision behind this removal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He claimed that the ANC ward councillor in the area had been \u201cthe chief protagonist\u201d behind the campaign to remove the billboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ActionSA said it was investigating whether the billboard site, which is owned by a private company, complied with the city\u2019s regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Major companies also hit <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Billboard-11-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Billboard-11-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-865146\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Billboard-11-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Billboard-11-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Billboard-11-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Billboard-11-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Billboard-11-1.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe courts have explicitly and repeatedly ruled that the city cannot remove billboards without a valid court order obtained by the city,\u201d Beaumont said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was verified today that no such court order was obtained in relation to the ActionSA billboard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ActionSA also alleged that the billboard was damaged during its removal and said it was considering legal action, including an urgent spoliation order, criminal charges and a complaint to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese latter legal components are important because the billboard was maliciously damaged during its removal,\u201d Beaumont said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The JPC\u2019s latest action follows a wider campaign against unauthorised outdoor advertising across Johannesburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In July, it removed an unauthorised FNB billboard on the N1 highway and a GWM Haval H6 billboard along Malibongwe Drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other recent operations have targeted advertising from Coca-Cola, Netflix, Fanta and RocoMamas, while WeBuyCars has also had advertising structures removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The JPC said businesses were among the primary offenders and encouraged advertisers to obtain the necessary council approvals before putting up outdoor advertising structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Johannesburg\u2019s battle against illegal billboards is not new. The city tightened its Outdoor Advertising and Billboards bylaws about a decade ago and has stepped up enforcement to address lost municipal revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jack Sekgobela, manager of outdoor advertising in the City\u2019s Planning Department, previously said that Johannesburg was losing millions of rand each year due to illegal advertising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe outdoor advertising and billboards by-laws clearly do not allow for illegal billboards to be put up without the city\u2019s permission,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>JPC CEO Musah Makhunga said the outdoor advertising industry had previously generated only about R4 million a year for the city. After enforcement was intensified, collections increased substantially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen we started this operation, many media owners came forward to engage with the city and enter into formal agreements,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe started from a base of about R4 million per annum and are now approaching R100 million in revenue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Makhunga said the increase highlighted significant revenue leakage in the city\u2019s outdoor advertising portfolio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is money that rightfully belongs to the City of Johannesburg to support service delivery,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He added that enforcement would continue as the JPC targets areas where illegal advertising structures are still being erected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe will continue pushing hard because there are still areas where illegal outdoor advertising is mushrooming,\u201d Makhunga said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said the additional revenue could help fund municipal priorities, including infrastructure maintenance and repairing potholes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">DA billboard taken down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1-16-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27439\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27438\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3-9-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27440\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ActionSA billboard taken down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/6-5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27444\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27443\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27445\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><\/a>FNB billboard taken down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5-2-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147673\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Absa billboard taken down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Absa-billboard-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147679\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">eTV billboard taken down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1-5-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147677\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">GWM billboard taken down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GWM-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147678\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Coca-Cola billboard taken down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4-2-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147685\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Netflix billboard taken down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5-3-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147686\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WeBuyCars billboard taken down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-8.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147682\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fanta billboard taken down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6-3-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147687\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">RocoMamas billboard taken down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/7-3-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147688\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">General billboard crackdown<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Billboard-crackdown-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147669\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/12-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147670\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/14-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147672\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/13-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147671\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/7-2-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147675\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dailyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2-3-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147681\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Johannesburg\u2019s crackdown has expanded to political campaign billboards, with advertising for ActionSA and the Democratic Alliance removed along with other major companies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":863580,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sma_x_autopost_status":"posted","_sma_x_autopost_error":"","_sma_x_post_id":"2101174719730847833","_sma_facebook_post_id":"191437357620492_2209822059838193","_sma_instagram_post_id":"18133829917731928","_sma_x_attempts":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[24616],"class_list":["post-876063","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-government","tag-city-of-johannesburg-coj"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/876063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/92"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=876063"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/876063\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":876271,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/876063\/revisions\/876271"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/863580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=876063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=876063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=876063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}