DURBAN - Political parties face the prospect of receiving hefty fines from Msunduzi Municipality if they do not remove posters that were used for campaigning for this year’s local government elections.
In Durban, parties still have almost two weeks before they have to remove their posters, while in Msunduzi Municipality, political parties have already had two weeks to do so.
This means that from Monday, November 15, the Msunduzi Municipality can issue fines to parties.
Msunduzi Municipality spokesperson Thobeka Mafumbatha indicated that parties had been alerted to the responsibility of removing their posters.
She cited Section 3 of the municipal by-laws which deals with posters.
“Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of these by-laws shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment or to both such fine and imprisonment, or to such other penalty as determined by the court of competent jurisdiction,” said Mafumbatha.
EThekwini Municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said all parties must remove all posters and/or flying banners within 30 days of the local government elections.
He explained that political parties pay R200 per ward and the number of posters was restricted to 800 posters per ward.
“In the event of any breach by a party, the municipality would contact the party concerned and the removal of posters will be carried out within two days after the party concerned has been contacted,” said Mayisela.
He added that failure to comply would normally result in the municipality removing the posters and recovering costs incurred from the party concerned at the rate of R50 per poster and the deposits made would be forfeited to the municipality.
THE MERCURY