The Citizen reports that the battle between Solidarity and Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi continues following the removal of a 70-meter-long billboard banner alongside the M1 in Joburg on Monday.
The message on the banner welcomed G20 summit leaders to what it described as the most racially regulated country in the world. The trade union’s CEO Dirk Hermann said court papers naming Lesufi and the Johannesburg Metro as respondents over the removal of the Solidarity banner had been served on them. “The metro unlawfully removed the banner. We should be in urgent court on November 18. The fact is, South Africa is the most racially regulated country in the world,” he said. The urgent case was brought against the City of Joburg, the Joburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Lesufi and the advertising agency, listed as Kwaito Trading Company.
Solidarity said it had contracted for the banner to be displayed on a section of the wall along the M1 South, close to the Smit Street offramp. It further said the billboard was erected pursuant to a valid commercial agreement with Kwaito. To the best of Solidarity’s knowledge, the billboard fully complied with applicable requirements, but, if any non-compliance allegedly existed, the city had been obliged to issue notice, identify the defect and allow an opportunity to respond. Solidarity further argued that the removal was therefore unlawful. Meantime, Lesufi, blocked Hermann on X.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marizka Coetzer at The Citizen
- Read too, Solidarity takes billboard fight to court, at News24
- En ook, Solidariteit sleep Lesufi, JMPD hof toe, by Maroela Media
Get other news reports at the SA LabourNews home page