City calling on political parties to comply with rules for election posters and swivel banners
19 August 2026
Today marks 11 weeks before the upcoming local government election, and as from today, political parties are allowed to put up political posters and swivel banners related to the election and party-political events.
The City of Cape Town distributed the ‘Rules for posters and swivel banners during voter registration, general election, and by-election processes, 2026’ to all registered political parties a few weeks ago already.
The rules stipulate how and where political parties are allowed to display posters and swivel banners during the current official election period in areas that fall within the City of Cape Town’s municipal boundaries.
The City kindly reminds all registered political parties and independent candidates contesting the upcoming local government elections of the rules applicable to the erection and display of party political posters and swivel banners.
- We also encourage the public to report any contraventions or complaints about party political posters and swivel banners in writing to the Deputy Municipal Electoral Officer at: Catherine.Overmeyer@capetown.gov.za.
It is very important to note the following rules
Posters:
- political parties are allowed only one election poster per party per streetlight pole and only one additional event poster per party per streetlight pole
- posters may only be displayed on streetlight poles
- posters may not be displayed on traffic signal poles, electrical or service boxes, any street furniture, walls, fences, trees, rocks or natural features, or any other poles other than light poles
- posters may not be pasted, but must be mounted on board and tied securely with stout string or plastic fastening unless a permanent frame is used for this purpose
- the display of posters is prohibited on any bridge
- the display of posters is not permitted on the freeway sections of the N1, N2, N7 and R300
- posters may not exceed 0,9m x 0,6m in size
- election posters must be removed within 10 days after the election, the string or plastic fasteners must be removed as well
Swivel banners:
- poles that carry swivel banners may not be used for the display of any posters
- lamp pole swivel banners are allowed on the City’s approved designated lamp poles and designated routes, but an application must be submitted to the City for the use of these poles
- applications are free and will be processed within 24 hours, but all are reminded that the display is limited to allocated routes and allocated City electric light poles only, and that only specified temporary lamp pole swivel brackets approved by the City, may be used
- lamp pole swivel banners may not be displayed within 30m of any road traffic sign or traffic signal
- swivel banner locations will be made available on a first come first served basis and political parties and independent candidates are encouraged to apply early because there is a limited number of poles available
The rules apply to all political parties and independent candidates contesting the upcoming local government elections.
Posters and swivel banners that contravene the rules must be removed by the political party or candidate within 48 hours of being notified to do so. Those posters that are contravening the rules and not removed within the stipulated deadline will be removed by the City at the party’s cost.
The cost to remove posters that are contravening the rules is R124 per poster; R179 per pasted poster; and R993 per swivel banner and R1 426 per swivel banner mounting device.