Property

Johannesburg crackdown hits Absa, WeBuyCars, Jeep, Dis-Chem, Engen, and Savanna

Daily Investor • 19 May 2026

The City of Johannesburg’s crackdown on illegal billboards affected many top companies, including Absa, WeBuyCars, Jeep, Engen, Dis-Chem, and Savanna.

The crackdown on illegal outdoor advertising began a decade ago, when the city stepped up efforts to curb the problem.

At the time, it targeted offenders, including big corporations and media owners, by instituting civil claims and laying charges against them.

Outdoor advertising and billboard by-laws do not allow signs or billboards to be erected without the City of Johannesburg’s permission.

“Illegal outdoor advertising in Johannesburg has been classified as a serious crime, in the same category as building hijackings,” it said.

The severity of the problem prompted the city to amend its by-laws to give it more teeth in its bid to eradicate the scourge.

Last year, the City of Johannesburg, through the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), intensified its crackdown on illegal billboards.

Musah Makhunga, the CEO of the Johannesburg Property Company, said that unlawful structures are a big problem in the city.

Apart from erecting billboards without approval, many digital advertising structures draw electricity unlawfully from the city’s network.

These connections place the city’s electrical infrastructure at risk, endanger surrounding communities, and constitute electricity theft.

He explained that these unlawful structures compromise public safety, disrupt infrastructure, and deprive the City of much-needed revenue.

“Our operations against illegal billboards reflect a firm stance against non-compliance and a renewed commitment to enforcing by-laws without fear or favour,” he said.

Makhunga added that the operation, which was launched in December 2025, will continue until all outdoor advertisers are compliant.

“The City is sending a clear message: unauthorised structures that bypass engineering safety and steal from municipal revenue will not be tolerated,” he said.

Crackdown affects many well-known companies

The crackdown in recent months affected many top companies, including Absa, WeBuyCars, Jeep, Engen, and Savanna.

The City of Johannesburg has started naming and shaming companies whose billboards it is removing.

It is not clear whether the companies mentioned were aware that their brands appeared on illegal billboards, as a media agency may have been responsible.

On 13 May 2026, the City of Johannesburg showed how it removed billboards from WeBuyCars and Jeep.

“These unauthorised structures don’t just bypass the city’s application process. They compromise road safety at major hubs and clutter our environment,” Makhunga said.

He warned that enforcement will intensify to stop revenue leakage and fund critical service delivery, such as pothole repairs.

Numerous similar campaigns were launched in 2026, where the Makhunga and others showed how they removed illegal structures.

In March 2026, for example, it removed Absa and Savanna billboards, which were in violation of the city’s outdoor advertising by-laws.

The campaign is working well. The Joburg Property Company (JPC) collected close to R100 million in revenue in a few months after intensifying its crackdown.

Makhunga said the outdoor advertising industry had contributed only about R4 million annually to the City before the intervention.

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

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

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

He promised to intensify enforcement operations across Johannesburg, as there are still areas where illegal outdoor advertising is mushrooming.