Battle of the Billboards: Solidarity Adds Another Ad in Johannesburg

• Trade Union Solidarity continues its battle with the Gauteng Provincial government as it erected another billboard
• Solidarity placed the billboard in Johannesburg, the same city where the City of Johannesburg removed its first billboard
• South Africans commented on the latest board and the response to it by the pro-South African organisation Betereinders

For seven years, Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of Current Affairs, South Africa, covered a range of topics, including accidents, fires, outbreaks, nature, weather, and natural disaster-related incidents, at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

JOHANNESBURG — Trade union Solidarity erected another billboard defiantly after the Gauteng Provincial Government removed its first racially-charged billboard in Johannesburg.

The organization's Head of Public Liaison, Jaco Kleynhans, posted a picture of the latest billboard on 17 November 2025 on his @JacoKleynhans X account. The picture is seemingly taken on the M1 south during peak traffic times. Another one was erected on Corlett Drive.

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View the X post here:

Organisation Betereinders also erected two billboards in response to Solidariteit's billboard. Betereinders is an organisation dedicated to improving South Africans' lives. Bianca Van Wyk posted an image of their billboard. on her @BiancavanWyk16 X account. In both of the billboards, Springbok players are surrounding Springbok captain Siya Kolisi.

View the X tweet here:

The Presidency also commented on Solidarity's billboard in Johannesburg. The banner had the words "Welcome to the most race-regulated country in the world." President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said that Solidarity had the freedom to express itself. He also said that Free speech is part of the South African DNA, such that even former champions of racism can continue to advocate for exclusion.

What did South Africans say?

South Africans were not impressed with the billboard.

Till Debt Do Us Part posited:

"Plot twist. What if Solidarity is collaborating with the ANC? The masses are tired of the ruling party. It can only make sense to agitate and make ANC heroes in this narrative."

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Kgopotso Thobejane said:

"South Africa has been the most race-regulated country in the world for some time now. It got worse after 1948."

Thembi Skosana said:

"Put them in the sky, even. You're not going to win anything."

Uchiha Pain asked:

"All these years, you were quiet about these 'race-regulated laws'. Now they bother you. Why?"

Francois Rsdeman said:

"Few people understand that the race laws only benefit a few, so the majority still and will always suffer."

Lesufi welcomes removal of Solidarity billboard

In a related article, Briefly News reported that Lesufi welcomed the removal of Solidarity's billboard. This was after he was critical of Solidarity placing the billboard in Johannesburg.

Lesufi praised the City of Johannesburg for taking the billboard down. The Johannesburg Metro Police Department removed the billboard. Lesufi said that the government acted against the message. South Africans slammed his stance.

"What happened to the concept of freedom of speech in this country? Is only the ANC allowed this freedom?" a netizen asked.

Source: Briefly News