What happens if you tamper with a rival party’s campaign poster?
Municipalities in South Africa are giving political parties guidelines for responsible (and legal) postering ahead of the 2024 elections.
City metros in South Africa are issuing political parties competing in the 2024 general elections (on Wednesday, 29 May) with clear guidelines on how to use posters and billboards for campaigning.
According to the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE), political parties are exempt from tariffs and application fees for putting up election posters. However, they must adhere to specific guidelines outlined by the City.
WHAT THE BY-LAWS STATE
Political parties need to comply with the following stipulations for “category five posters”, under the COE Billboards and the Display of Advertisements by-laws (2017):
- Posters shall be affixed to electrical light standards and affixed receptacles by using a suitable cord. No metal clamps or wire shall be used. Posters should not be affixed or nailed to trees, nor be used to advertise a commercial event. They must also be affixed at least 50 metres away from an intersection.
- A maximum of three posters will be allowed per standard or per post, and a maximum of four posters will be allowed per standard or per post if situated on the road island or median, back to back.
- Recommended size for posters are maximum size 0.9m x 0.6m (A1 size) and the clearance is recommended to be 2.4m (minimum height from ground).
TAMPERING WITH RIVAL POSTERS
Along with the rules on flighting posters, CoE Speaker Zweli Mkhize added: “No individual or group is to tamper with any of the displayed material of another political party with regards to the elections.”
“Additionally, no individual or group is to tamper with any of the City’s assets/ properties – such as bridges, fencing, walls, buildings – to display material related to elections.”
Mkhize condemned such behaviour and said that any individual or group who is caught doing so will be reported to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further action.
The IEC’s official website states that the above is considered “electoral fraud“, which can incur fines and a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Mkhize said the City has pleaded with contesting individuals and political parties to make sure that their election campaigns advertised on billboards are also approved in line with the by-laws.
The City further noted that for billboards on council-owned property, rental fees are required to contribute revenue to the City during the election period.
HOW TO ADVERTISE A CANDIDATE FOR ELECTIONS
According to the City of Johannesburg’s Outdoor Advertising by-law, 2017, a poster about a candidate running for an election can be displayed from the date that person is officially nominated as a candidate.
For other election-related posters or posters about voter registration, they can be displayed either 14 days before the official announcement of the election or voter registration, or 14 days before the candidates are nominated, whichever comes first.
“In terms of the by-laws, no posters shall be displayed for longer than the period extending from the beginning of the date of proclamation in the Government Gazette of an upcoming referendum or election, to the end of the 14th day after the date of such an election,” Mkhize concluded.
Failure to remove posters by 12 June will result in removal by the City, he said. The respective political party will be charged a removal fee of R57.69 per poster as per the City’s tariff schedule.
“The City shall not be liable for any loss, damage, storage, cost, claims, demands and/or any other liability from an individual or political party who had contested the elections, with regards to election-related material removed by the City,” Mkhize concluded.