The City of Johannesburg says “The banner was illegally erected by Solidarity or its agents”.

The dispute between the City of Johannesburg and the trade union Solidarity centers on the removal of a controversial banner. Solidarity instituted urgent legal proceedings before the Gauteng Division of the High Court to have the banner reinstated or returned. The banner, which read, “Welcome to the most race-regulated country in the world,” was erected along the M1 motorway in Johannesburg.

Solidarity’s controversial messaging created a heated public conversation about race relations and was widely interpreted by critics as displaying a superiority complex. Conversely, the message was well received by certain groups in America and the West who share the belief that Afrikaners are persecuted by the government through race-based legislation.

The City of Johannesburg stated that the banner was illegally erected by Solidarity or its agents. The City emphasized that, in terms of the Outdoor Advertising By-Laws, 2009, any party seeking to erect, install, or display an outdoor advertising sign on City-owned property must submit an application and obtain formal approval from the City. Crucially, the City asserts that no such application was submitted for the banner in question.

In contrast, Solidarity’s communications, including posts on its social media platforms, claim that it had a legal contract with an advertising agency and had met all the necessary requirements. They further argue that the banner was unlawfully removed.

The City, following consultation with its legal representatives, offered a compromise: to return the banner to Solidarity on the condition that it would not be reinstalled anywhere in the City until Solidarity complied with the applicable by-laws. This proposal was rejected by Solidarity. The City concluded by reiterating its unwavering commitment to ensure the consistent and transparent enforcement of its by-laws, regardless of the identity of the perpetrator of such illegal conduct.