Johannesburg crackdown hits DA and ActionSA
A crackdown on illegal outdoor advertising in Johannesburg has led to the removal of Democratic Alliance and ActionSA billboards.
On 16 September 2026, the Johannesburg Property Company continued its removal of illegal outdoor advertising structures that contravene the city’s bylaws.
This campaign was led by the MMC for Economic Development, Nomoya Mnisi, and the MMC for Development Planning, Sibongile Mgcina.
“Illegal outdoor advertising is not just a compliance issue. It also impacts municipal revenue, the management of public spaces, and fair business practices,” they said.
The Johannesburg Property Company targeted billboards in Soweto, which included advertising from the Democratic Alliance and ActionSA.
It posted videos of the political parties’ outdoor advertising being taken down, which were targeted at the 2026 Local Government Elections.
The Democratic Alliance billboard promoted Helen Zille as mayor, with the payoff line, “Get Joburg Working For All.”
The ActionSA billboard promoted Herman Mashaba as Johannesburg mayor, with the payoff line, “Let’s Do It Again”.
ActionSA responded to the action, saying that it showed that Mashaba and AcrionSA are a threat to the ANC as a dying party in Johannesburg.
“The ANC is being rejected across the city for its prolific failures that have driven the city into the ground,” ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont said.
“The 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.”
“It has further been established that the ANC ward councillor of the area has been the chief protagonist behind the campaign to remove the billboard.”
ActionSA said it was investigating the billboard site’s compliance with city regulations, which are owned by a private company.
“The courts have explicitly and repeatedly ruled that the city cannot remove billboards without a valid court order obtained by the city,” he said.
“It was verified today that no such court order was obtained in relation to the ActionSA billboard.”
He added that the removal or damage of election materials, including billboards, is a criminal offence under the Municipal Electoral Act.
It carries a fine or 10 years’ imprisonment and constitutes a breach of the IEC Code of Conduct.
“These latter legal components are important because the billboard was maliciously damaged during its removal,” Beaumont said.
ActionSA is engaging its legal teams to determine an appropriate response, including an urgent Spoliation Order, criminal charges, and a complaint to the IEC.
DA billboard taken down
ActionSA billboard taken down
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They cannot fight poverty, but they will spend money to remove billboards? ANC is sooo scared of other parties. So what will happen if the DA or Action SA removes ANC billboards? They will change the law so that you cannot remove their boards. They change the law constantly to cover themselves.