The Democratic Alliance (DA) in eThekwini, South Africa, is bracing for legal action after refusing to remove an election billboard that describes three senior municipality officials as the "water tanker mafia". The billboard, located along the N2 freeway in Durban, features images of eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba, city manager Sipho Mbhele, and the municipality's Water and Sanitation executive director, Ednick Msweli. Lawyers for the officials had given the DA 24 hours to take down the billboard and issue a public apology.
The DA's eThekwini mayoral candidate, Haniff Hoosen, stated that the party will not take down the billboard until instructed by a court order. Hoosen emphasized that the people of Durban have a right to know who should be held accountable for the water crisis in the city. According to Hoosen, there are 13,000 active water leaks in Durban, with 65% of the water being wasted, and 21 million liters of water lost every month.
The water crisis in Durban has been a pressing issue, with the city's leadership being criticized for not taking sufficient action over the past five years. The DA's billboard has sparked controversy, with ActionSA's mayoral candidate in eThekwini, Zwakele Mncwango, accusing the DA of seeking attention through "cheap politicking". Mncwango believes that the DA's approach does not address the real issues and instead makes baseless allegations against individuals.
ActionSA's Zwakele Mncwango further stated that the DA's billboard shows that the party does not take the water crisis seriously. Mncwango's comments highlight the ongoing debate about the DA's strategy and its impact on the city's residents. The DA's refusal to remove the billboard has set the stage for a potential court battle.
The threatened legal action against the DA is based on the party's use of the term "water tanker mafia" to describe the three senior officials. The officials' lawyers argue that the billboard is defamatory and have given the DA an ultimatum to take down the billboard and apologize. The DA's stance has sparked a heated debate about the accountability of municipal officials and the need for transparency in addressing the city's water crisis.
The eThekwini municipality has been facing significant challenges in addressing the water crisis, with a large number of active water leaks and significant water losses. The DA's billboard has brought attention to the issue, but its approach has been questioned by other parties. The city's residents are eagerly awaiting a resolution to the water crisis and greater accountability from municipal officials.
As the situation unfolds, the DA's eThekwini mayoral candidate, Haniff Hoosen, remains resolute that the party will not back down. Hoosen's stance reflects the DA's determination to hold municipal officials accountable for the city's water crisis. The outcome of the threatened legal action and the DA's stance on the billboard will likely have significant implications for the city's residents and municipal leadership.
Key points
- The DA in eThekwini faces legal action over a billboard describing three senior municipality officials as the "water tanker mafia".
- The billboard has sparked controversy, with ActionSA accusing the DA of "cheap politicking" and not taking the water crisis seriously.
- The DA has refused to remove the billboard, citing the need for accountability and transparency in addressing the city's water crisis.
