Posters plastered across Nelson Mandela Bay brandishing a photo of Mayor Gary van Niekerk stating that he has gone missing have municipal officials hot under the collar.
The posters (purporting to be a Missing Person poster) were spotted on lamp poles at various intersections across the city when residents woke up on Tuesday.
It states: MISSING. MAYOR GARY VAN NIEKERK. PLEASE HELP FIND HIM! (stet)
When word of the 'Missing Mayor' reached City Hall, a stern warning was issued that the "pranksters" responsible for distributing the "juvenile posters" would be dealt with in accordance with the municipal outdoor advertising policy.
Van Niekerk, however, told Algoa FM News that he did not take any offense to the prank when he saw it on social media.
According to Van Niekerk, he was inundated with calls, especially from his extremely worried parents who he had to present with proof of life by visiting them in person.
"Though I don't take it personally, there are others who do not deem it funny, like Missing Person Organisations.
"We've had a spate of kidnappings in the metro of late and that has left a lot of people up in arms about this."
Van Niekerk also said the time, effort, and money spent on the prank could have been put to better use like helping Missing Person Organisations.
"There is also a political agenda they were trying to push her, but anyway, people know where I am and that I am busy working," he said.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Human Settlements, Thembinkosi Mafana said the transgressors can face fines of up to R3000 for failure to follow the correct procedures pertained in the municipal outdoor advertising policy.
According to Mafana, the fines do not include potential litigation by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
“Besides the message being a childish attempt to stir, it is undesirable as municipal lamp poles are currently used by political parties for electioneering.
“As per agreement with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) we relax our bylaws to allow political parties to compete fairly for outdoor advertising space.
“We therefore cannot allow the illegal occupation of advertising space, meant for political parties, to be used by pranksters.
“In addition, if those responsible, do not take responsibility – which we strongly suspect in this case – the illegal posters will end up on landfill sites," he said.
