The City of Cape Town has given political parties until November 18 to remove party election posters before a fine is introduced.
Political parties and independent candidates have until November 18 to remove their election posters and banners from street poles across Cape Town following the local government elections held on November 4.
The City of Cape Town has warned that parties that fail to meet the deadline will face removal costs of R123.48, excluding VAT, for every poster or banner removed by municipal teams.
Luthando Tyhalibongo, the City's spokesperson, said the municipality had distributed its Rules for Posters and Swivel Banners During Voter Registration, General Election and By-election Processes, 2026 to all registered political parties a few weeks before the elections.
Tyhalibongo said all election posters and swivel banners must be removed by Wednesday, November 18. Political parties are also required to remove the strings and plastic fasteners used to secure the posters to street poles.
The removal requirements fall within the City's broader regulatory framework under the Outdoor Advertising and Signage by-law, 2023, particularly Schedule 11, which regulates posters displayed on municipal infrastructure.
Parties face removal costs for posters left up
Schedule 11 requires posters and their fastening ties to be removed by the removal date specified on the City's permit approval sticker. The City also issues election-specific rules setting out the conditions applicable to political campaign material during election periods.
"Posters that are not removed within this deadline will be removed by the City at the political party's cost at R123.48 (VAT excluded) per poster/banner," Tyhalibongo said.
He said the City would monitor compliance with the deadline and rely on members of the public to report posters that remained displayed after the stipulated date.
The municipality has also encouraged residents to report any contraventions or complaints relating to political party posters and swivel banners in writing to the Deputy Municipal Electoral Officer, Catherine Overmeyer, at [email protected].
ANC begins removing its election posters
Meanwhile, the African National Congress (ANC) has already started removing its election posters, using both contractors and party members to clear campaign material from street poles.
Mvusi Mdala of the ANC said the party had hired a company to remove posters on its behalf, while members in some wards and branches were also taking responsibility for removing them.
"We have already started removing our posters. Come Friday, no ANC poster will be seen in the street," Mdala said.
He added that the party was making efforts to recycle or reuse some of the posters collected during the removal process.
The November 18 deadline gives political parties and independent candidates 14 days after the elections to clear their campaign material from public infrastructure.
Parties that fail to comply risk additional costs as the municipality moves to remove outstanding campaign material.