JOHANNESBURG - ActionSA has lambasted the recent removal of its billboard advert in Diepkloof, Soweto.
In a statement following the removal on Wednesday, ActionSA’s National Chairperson Michael Beaumont said the removal was unlawful and described it as a "politically driven campaign".
He said the billboard featuring party leader Herman Mashaba and the words “Let's Do It Again”, was removed from a privately owned site where a third-party media buyer secured advertising space.
In light of this, Beaumont said the party is engaging its legal teams to determine an appropriate response and will also investigate the compliance of the billboard site in terms of city regulation.
“The removal and damaging of election materials, including billboards, is a criminal offence in terms of the provisions of the Municipal Electoral Act, carrying a sentence of a fine or 10 years' imprisonment, and a breach of the IEC Code of Conduct. These latter legal components are important because the billboard was maliciously damaged in its removal," he said.
Beaumont said other possible courses of action are not limited to an urgent Spoliation Order, criminal charges in terms of the Municipal Electoral Act and a complaint to the IEC in relation to the Code of Conduct.
eNCA reached out to the City for comment on the matter, but they did not respond by the time of publication.
Their response will be added once received.