Johannesburg – The Gauteng government is facing renewed controversy ahead of the upcoming G20 Summit after a 70-metre Solidarity billboard on Johannesburg’s M1 South — which described South Africa as “the most racially regulated country in the world” — was removed by city officials.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi condemned the banner as racist, saying: “Racists are loud and clear! They hate transformation and are busy vulgarising our efforts to build an all-inclusive country that recognises the injustices of apartheid. We must defeat them. To do that we must bury our petty differences and unite the like minds and push them back!”
Racists are loud and clear! They hate transformation and are busy vulgarising our efforts to build an all inclusive country that recognises the injustices of apartheid. We must defeat them. To do that we must bury our petty differences and unite the like minds and push them back! pic.twitter.com/a4rdyq1rdr
— Panyaza Lesufi (@Lesufi) November 10, 2025
Following his initial post on X, Lesufi confirmed the billboard’s removal, sharing a video of city workers taking it down.
“Gone,” he captioned the post.
Gone! pic.twitter.com/VGo8PQBmw7
— Panyaza Lesufi (@Lesufi) November 10, 2025
Solidarity has since announced it is preparing to take legal action against the City of Johannesburg after municipal officials removed its billboards declaring South Africa “the most race-regulated country in the world.”
The campaign, launched ahead of the G20 Summit, was intended to highlight what Solidarity calls racial injustice, economic decline, and governance failures in South Africa. However, it drew immediate backlash from government officials, with Lesufi condemning the campaign as racist and anti-transformation, accusing its creators of undermining efforts to build an inclusive society.
According to IOL, Solidarity spokesperson Pieter Jordaan described the municipality’s actions as unlawful censorship, claiming the billboard had been legally approved through an advertising agency. He accused the city of trying to silence criticism, saying the government “did not want the message to be seen.”
Jordaan argued that South Africa’s race-based policies harm all citizens and cost the economy billions annually. He added that Solidarity would continue to raise the issue internationally, including by engaging with G20 embassies.
In response, Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya dismissed the campaign as the work of a “tiny right-wing minority,” calling it “unimportant and mindless.”
Lesufi orders removal of Solidarity banner
A banner on the M1 highway in Johannesburg, erected by the labour organisation Solidarity, has been removed following an order from Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
Authorities said the signage was racially sensitive and could harm the… pic.twitter.com/dDV2mcpVtD
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) November 10, 2025
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
