Question CW42 to the Minister of Transport
09 March 2020 - CW42
Michalakis, Mr G to ask the Minister of Transport
Whether authorisation for the billboard that advertises the Dihlabeng Local Municipality (details furnished) was granted by the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) which manages the N5 road; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
No authorisation has not been given by SANRAL for the billboard in question on N5. In terms of Section 50 of the SANRAL Act (Act 7 of 1998) and Regulations on Advertisements on or Visible from National Roads, the Municipality is required to submit an application for approval prior to erecting the billboard, however no such application was received by SANRAL for processing.
The Dihlabeng local Municipality did not apply for approval in terms of Regulations on Advertisements on or Visible from National Roads and Section 50 SANRAL Act (Act 7 of 1998), as a result it may pose a distraction to motorists.
SANRAL has, on two occasions, affixed notification stickers on the billboard indicating that the board it is illegal and must be removed within 21 days. On both occasions, the stickers have been removed but with no action taken in terms of removing the billboard. SANRAL is now in process of issuing a formal legal notice to the Municipality that the billboard must be removed. Failure by the Municipality to respond to the legal notice and to remove the billboard, will lead to SANRAL removing the billboard for the cost of the Municipality.