Graffiti is an act of vandalism that impacts negatively on residents and damages the image of a neighbourhood. It is often associated with criminal elements and is seen as a reflection of social breakdown and a lack of citizenship, certainly if left unchecked, it could lead to the gradual breakdown of urban areas.
Within Newlands there are certain graffiti hotspots: walls of properties facing the M3, the trees along the M3 and into the forest, subways and Paradise Motors. Most graffiti in Newlands has no message whatsoever and is just an intertagger code between neighbourhood youngsters.
The removal of graffiti on private property is the owner’s responsibility. Advice can be obtained from johnrogers1944@gmail.com or U-Turn can be contracted to remove it, speak with Ron Wilson on 084 608 8925.
Graffiti on public property will be removed by the City Council and must be reported via the C3 reporting service contactUs@capetown.gov.za.
The City Council is in the process of drafting a new graffiti by-law. This by-law will provide the City with the necessary authority to clamp down on graffiti vandals and to claim the costs of cleaning up graffiti from perpetrators. Read this Draft By-Law on the City Council’s Website.