ACDP cries foul as election posters vanish in Bryanston, warns of criminal sabotage

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) in Johannesburg has accused unknown perpetrators of sabotaging its election campaign after its posters were stripped from lamp-posts in Bryanston just days after going up, in what the party says is an attack on democracy itself.

In a statement, the party's Johannesburg councillor caucus said posters put up six days ago in the upmarket northern suburb had already been removed, with those near the Winnie Mandela Bridge and its on-ramp surviving for just four days.

"The ACDP is very concerned about posters that have been removed in the Bryanston area since we put them up six days ago. Those near the Winnie Mandela Bridge and on-ramp stayed up for only four days," said ACDP Councillor Chris Rohlssen.

Rohlssen, who is leading the party's complaint, said the removal of posters is not a petty street-level squabble but a direct assault on the right of smaller parties to contest elections on an equal footing.

"Political parties must respect our hard-won democracy. All those on the ballot paper have the right to put their posters up on the lamp-posts. Elections need to be free, fair – and to be seen to be so," he said.

The ACDP is now invoking the law. Rohlssen pointed to Section 72(1) of the Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act 27 of 2000 and the Electoral Act 73 of 1998, which makes it a criminal offence to deface or remove the poster of a political party.

"Under Section 72(1) of the Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act 27 of 2000 and the Electoral Act 73 of 1998, it is a criminal offence to deface or remove the poster of a political party," he said.

While poster wars are a familiar feature of every South African election, the Johannesburg race has been particularly vicious this year. With more than 50 parties on the ballot in some wards, lamp-posts in high-visibility areas like Bryanston, Sandton, Rosebank and along the Winnie Mandela Drive corridor have become prime real estate.

The Bryanston incident is not isolated. In the run-up to the 2026 Local Government Elections, parties across Gauteng have complained of similar tactics.

In Tshwane last month, the DA and EFF traded accusations over torn posters in Soshanguve. In Ekurhuleni, ActionSA reported its posters being spray-painted.

The ACDP argues that if voters only see the posters of well-funded parties because smaller parties' material is removed under cover of darkness, the election cannot be said to be truly free and fair.

The IEC has repeatedly warned that defacing posters is not only illegal but also violates the Electoral Code of Conduct, which commits parties to respect each other's right to campaign and to instruct their supporters to do the same.

The ACDP currently holds three seats in the City of Johannesburg council and is campaigning to retain its status as a kingmaker in a hung council. Its votes, though modest, have often proved decisive in mayoral elections.

Rohlssen said the party will not be intimidated.

"We will continue to put up our posters lawfully, as we are entitled to do. We ask other parties to do the same and to contest ideas, not lamp-posts," he said.