Matlosana Issues Deadline for Post-Election Poster Clean-Up and Advertising Removal
The municipality is urging political parties, candidates, and their organizers to clear the public visual landscape within the legally mandated post-election timeframe, or risk facing administrative and financial penalties.
Strict Compliance Window Set for Post-Election Poster Removal
On 7 November 2026, the City of Matlosana Local Municipality released an official notice declaring 18 November 2026 as the absolute deadline for the removal of all election-related materials. Under the municipality's standard advertising and public space by-laws, political candidates, parties, and organizations are permitted a maximum of 14 days after an election to remove posters from public areas.
As part of this enforcement push, local authorities are targeting all campaign items deployed for the 4 November elections. Municipal manager teams and public safety officers will oversee this compliance campaign, which applies to any "unauthorized or non-compliant political advertising boards" that were mounted on municipal infrastructure, streetlights, road reserves, traffic islands, and pavements.
The municipal statement was clear on the consequences of failing to comply, noting that if the 14-day window closes with posters and boards still in place, the municipality will remove the offending materials itself. To ensure accountability, the municipality warned that the cost of these removal operations, as well as the storage of any seized signage, will be billed directly to the responsible political parties or candidates.
For clarification on specific boundaries, removal methods, or compliance standards, the municipality has directed party representatives to contact Mr. Keaobaka Molete at 018 487 8092.
Resolving the Visual and Environmental Impact on Local Infrastructure
A major focus of the directive is to address the visual clutter and environmental impact caused by hundreds of campaign posters and structural boards throughout the municipality. When these materials are left to deteriorate, they can pose a threat to public safety and damage municipal property.
Unattended cardboard and plastic posters frequently degrade, falling onto roads and blocking stormwater drains, while wire, cable ties, and mounting frames left on utility poles can interfere with maintenance and create hazards for motorists and pedestrians. Local by-laws require that when posters are taken down, all mounting hardware, particularly plastic zip-ties and metal wire, must also be removed to prevent lingering damage.
By enforcing the 14-day rule, the City of Matlosana aim to quickly restore the natural and built environments of towns like Klerksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein, and Hartbeesfontein, ensuring that municipal infrastructure remains safe and uncluttered.
Legal Responsibility and Resource Strain
This enforcement effort highlights the ongoing challenge of managing post-election cleanup, a task that often strains municipal resources if political parties fail to meet their obligations. When a municipality is forced to step in, it requires the deployment of public works teams, vehicles, and equipment that could otherwise be used for routine maintenance and service delivery.
The policy of billing parties for the costs of removal is intended to prevent taxpayer money from being used to clean up campaign materials, while also encouraging political entities to show responsibility after their campaigns have ended.
Residents seeking more information or wishing to report unremoved posters after the 18 November deadline can contact Ms. Ntswaki Makgetha, Assistant Director of Corporate Communication, at 018 487 8311 or via email at ntswaki@klerksdorp.org.
Through this proactive notification, the City of Matlosana Local Municipality aims to ensure that the visual and environmental aftermath of the November elections is resolved quickly, helping to maintain clean, safe, and orderly public spaces for all residents.
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