Deadline looms to remove party posters

Political parties have until tomorrow, Friday June 14, to remove all their election posters from street poles.

The City of Cape Town has warned that it will fine parties R134.10 for each poster still up. The City will remove the posters and bill the parties.

The City said election posters used to canvas votes for the May 29 national and provincial elections had to be removed within 10 days after the election.

Initially the deadline was Monday June 10 but the City extended this due to last week’s heavy rains.

“Due to the inclement weather last week, the City decided to allow political parties another week to remove their election posters, said City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo.

The extension came handy to political parties that spoke to Vukani.

The Alliance of Citizens for Change (ACC) founder and the president Masizole Mnqasela said the City’s stance on the posters was good to ensure that political parties are held responsible for the upkeep of the city. He said his party has already started to remove the posters. “Hence the A.C.C. instructed Changers to remove the posters across the board. We only request the City to be lenient on parties who may have delayed by at least not more than seven days more due to the current stalemate of the election outcomes confronting the nation right now. Even if no further grace period is granted, the A.C.C. is on the ground to ensure maximum compliance with the COCT By-laws,” he said.

Meanwhile the ANC’s Dullah Omar region spokesman, Ayanda Jonginamba said his organisation was in the process of removing all ANC posters before tomorrow. “We respect the City by-laws, and we will abide by them. We have no issues with the charge as it is in the right of the City to issue fines that it deems appropriate,” he said.

Vukani reached out to other parties like the Democratic Alliance, Good Party, and Rise Mzantsi but had not received a response.