City of Cape Town enforces strict rules for election posters

Political parties and independent candidates can officially begin putting up election posters and swivel banners in Cape Town from today, as the country enters the final 11-week countdown to the 4 November 2026 local government elections.

The City of Cape Town has reminded all registered political parties and independent candidates that strict rules govern the display of election-related posters and banners within the city’s municipal boundaries.

The City distributed its Rules for Posters and Swivel Banners During Voter Registration, General Election and By-Election Processes, 2026 to registered political parties several weeks ago.

Residents are also encouraged to report alleged violations or complaints in writing to the Deputy Municipal Electoral Officer.

Strict rules for posters

Political parties may display one election poster per party per streetlight pole, as well as one additional event poster per party per streetlight pole.

Posters may only be attached to streetlight poles. They are prohibited on traffic signal poles, electrical or service boxes, street furniture, walls, fences, trees, rocks, bridges and other structures or natural features.

Posters may not be pasted onto poles. They must be mounted on boards and securely fastened using stout string or plastic fasteners, unless a permanent frame is provided.

Posters are also prohibited on the freeway sections of the N1, N2, N7 and R300.

Election posters may not exceed 0.9 metres by 0.6 metres.

Political parties and candidates must remove election posters, including their strings or plastic fasteners, within 10 days of the election.

Separate rules apply to swivel banners.

Lamp-pole swivel banners may only be displayed on City-approved designated lamp poles and routes, and political parties or candidates must apply to the City to use these locations.

Applications are free and will be processed within 24 hours.

The City warned that banners are restricted to allocated routes and designated municipal electric light poles. Only temporary swivel brackets approved by the City may be used.

Swivel banners may not be displayed within 30 metres of a road traffic sign or traffic signal.

Available locations will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with the City encouraging political parties and independent candidates to apply early because the number of approved poles is limited.

Poles carrying swivel banners cannot simultaneously be used to display posters.

Parties could face removal costs

Political parties and independent candidates will have 48 hours to remove posters or swivel banners that contravene the City’s rules after being notified.

If the offending material is not removed within the stipulated period, the City will remove it and charge the responsible party or candidate.

The current removal costs are:

• R124 per non-compliant poster
• R179 per pasted poster
• R993 per swivel banner
• R1 426 per swivel banner mounting device

The rules apply equally to all political parties and independent candidates contesting the upcoming local government elections.

With just 11 weeks to go before voters head to the polls, Cape Town’s streets are now set to become increasingly visible battlegrounds for political campaigning – but parties will have to ensure their election advertising stays within the City’s rules.