It has been more than a month since the 2019 general elections, but party posters remain on display on street poles in some areas of Komani.
EMLM spokesman Gcobani Msindwana said the effective dates for the display of posters for the elections was from April 24 until May 31. “Election posters should be put up not earlier than 30 days before the poll date or from the date the minister makes the order for the holding of the poll, whichever is the shorter period. These posters are permitted from the date the polling day order is signed. In accordance with the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended, election posters and ties must be removed within seven days after the polling date. Failure to do so may result in prosecution or a fine. The associated fixing arrangement, particularly plastic ties, must be removed at the same time as the poster is removed.”
IEC provincial electoral officer, Kayakazi Magudumana, said the IEC had nothing to do with party posters that were still on display, indicating that political parties made arrangements with the various municipalities.
Msindwana added that a letter would be written to all political parties that still had posters on display “to remind them of the transgression and that corrective measures will be implemented according to the by-laws of the municipality.”
DA councillor Malibongwe Xhelisilo assured The Rep that remaining posters that belonged to that party would be removed. “The municipality failed to assert pressure. They are supposed to enforce rules.”
EFF regional liaison officer, Masibulele Booi, said the party had received a public notice on the removal of posters. “A team was delegated to remove all EFF posters and I can confirm that all visible posters were removed. We have destroyed all the damaged posters and kept the rest so we can further utilise them.”
ANC regional secretary, Lusanda Sizani, said: “We had issued an instruction for all posters to be removed. It is now our duty to check if there were any remaining posters.”
