Election posters must come down by 18 November or parties pay
Cape Town wants all election posters and banners down by 18 November 2026 or it charges parties R123.48 each. Johannesburg gave parties 14 days after the election and will charge R500 per poster it removes.
Political parties and independent candidates in Cape Town must take down their election posters and swivel banners by Wednesday, 18 November 2026, or the City will remove them and charge R123.48 a poster, excluding VAT (IOL). In Johannesburg, parties had 14 days after the 4 November election to clear their posters, and the City says it will charge R500 for every poster it has to remove (TimesLIVE).
What are the rules in each city?
| City | Deadline | What happens after | Cost to the party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town | 18 November 2026 | The City removes posters and banners | R123.48 each, excluding VAT |
| Johannesburg | 14 days after the election | Formal notice first, then JMPD's by-law unit removes them | R500 each |
Sources: IOL; The Citizen; TimesLIVE.
Does it include the cable ties?
Yes, in Cape Town. The City says parties must also remove the string and plastic fasteners used to tie posters up (IOL; EWN).
What does Johannesburg's by-law say?
Removal is covered by Section 28 of the City's 2009 Outdoor Advertising By-laws. Parties that miss the 14 day window get a formal notice with a set time to clear their posters. If they still don't, the metro police by-law unit removes and collects them, and the City issues the R500 penalty per poster (TimesLIVE).
The City said leaving posters up "makes the city unsightly, compromises road safety, and defaces municipal assets" (The Citizen).
How do you report posters still up in Cape Town?
The City asks residents to report contraventions or complaints about party posters and swivel banners in writing to its Deputy Municipal Electoral Officer (IOL).
Can I take a poster down myself?
Be careful. Posters belong to the party that put them up, and we explain the rules on removing them in our earlier guide to election poster rules.
FAQ
When must election posters come down in Cape Town?
By Wednesday, 18 November 2026. After that the City removes them at the party's cost of R123.48 per poster or banner, excluding VAT.
How much does Johannesburg charge for election posters left up?
R500 per poster, charged to the party, after a formal notice if posters remain more than 14 days after the election.
Do parties have to remove cable ties too?
In Cape Town, yes. The City says string and plastic fasteners must also be removed.
Sources
- IOL: Cape Town gives parties until November 18 to remove election posters
- EWN: City of Cape Town warns parties to remove election posters by 18 November
- The Citizen: How much Johannesburg and Cape Town fine parties for election posters
- TimesLIVE: Joburg urges parties to clear election posters or pay R500 for each