Johannesburg Intensifies Illegal Billboard Crackdown, Major Brands Caught in Enforcement Drive

The City of Johannesburg has ramped up its campaign against illegal outdoor advertising, with several high-profile brands – including Coca-Cola, Netflix, MTN, Absa, KFC, WeBuyCars, Jeep, Dis-Chem, Engen, and eTV – finding themselves caught up in the latest enforcement operations.

The initiative, known as “No to Illegal Outdoor Advertising,” forms part of the city’s broader bylaw enforcement programme aimed at removing unauthorised billboards and improving regulatory compliance across Johannesburg.

Johannesburg City Manager Floyd Brink said the city was determined to stamp out illegal outdoor advertising.

“We are taking a firm stand against illegal outdoor advertising in a bylaw enforcement operation to remove unauthorised billboards and restore the rule of law,” he said.

City Shifts to More Aggressive Enforcement

Johannesburg has been battling unauthorised billboards for more than a decade. Earlier efforts focused on legal action against offenders, including large corporations and media owners, through civil claims and criminal charges. However, city officials said those measures failed to stop the proliferation of illegal advertising structures.

In December 2025, the city adopted a tougher approach under Brink’s leadership, working alongside the Joburg Property Company (JPC), City Power, and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD).

Rather than relying primarily on court action, authorities began dismantling non-compliant billboards while publicly identifying offending advertising structures through photos and videos shared online.

Revenue Collection Sees Significant Improvement

According to Joburg Property Company CEO Musah Makhunga, the new enforcement strategy has delivered measurable financial benefits for the city.

Before the intensified campaign, outdoor advertising generated only about R4 million annually in revenue for Johannesburg. Since the crackdown began, that figure has risen sharply.

“When we started this operation, many media owners came forward to engage with the city and enter into formal agreements,” Makhunga said.

“We started from a base of about R4 million per annum, and we are now reaching close to R100 million.”

He added that the increase highlighted the scale of revenue previously lost through non-compliant outdoor advertising.

“This demonstrates that there was significant revenue leakage within the outdoor advertising portfolio, money that rightfully belongs to the city.”

Makhunga also said enforcement operations would continue across Johannesburg, noting that illegal billboards remain widespread in several parts of the city.

Major Brands Named During Campaign

As part of the initiative, the Joburg Property Company has publicly highlighted several billboards found to be in violation of municipal regulations.

One recent enforcement action targeted a Netflix billboard promoting the television series The Polygamist.

In a social media post accompanying its removal, the agency remarked:

“The Polygamist has many relationships. Unfortunately, compliance isn’t one of them.”

It added that the billboard was being removed as part of its ongoing enforcement and revenue collection campaign, with teams focusing on multiple locations to improve compliance, safeguard municipal revenue, and create a cleaner urban environment.

Authorities also dismantled non-compliant advertising structures carrying promotions for Geely, GWM’s Tank vehicle range, and WeBuyCars along major routes, including the N1 near Funda Park.

Previous enforcement actions have also involved billboards promoting brands such as MTN, Absa, Jeep, Dis-Chem, Engen, and eTV.

Brands Urged to Ensure Compliance

Brink urged companies to take greater responsibility for ensuring that their outdoor advertising complies with municipal regulations, regardless of whether third-party agencies manage their campaigns.

The city acknowledged that many companies may rely on advertising agencies and specialist outdoor media firms, but stressed that brands can still suffer reputational damage when their advertisements are displayed on unauthorised structures.

Reinforcing the city’s position, the Joburg Property Company said:

“Whether it’s a small business, major brand or national broadcaster, compliance is not optional.”

The city has indicated that enforcement efforts will continue as it seeks to eliminate illegal outdoor advertising while boosting municipal revenue through improved regulatory compliance.

The photos below show the crackdown on illegal billboards in the City of Johannesburg as part of the bylaw enforcement operation.

Coca-Cola billboard taken down