eThekwini welcomes removal of DA ‘water tanker mafia’ billboard

The eThekwini Municipality has welcomed the removal of an election billboard erected by the Democratic Alliance (DA) along the N2 in Durban, which referred to a “water tanker mafia” and featured the mayor and senior municipal officials.

DA eThekwini mayoral candidate Haniff Hoosen unveiled the billboard on Monday, 28 September.

Through their lawyers, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba, City Manager Musa Mbhele and the Executive Director responsible for water and sanitation demanded that the DA remove the billboard and issue a public apology within 24 hours.

DA REMOVES ‘WATER TANKER MAFIA’ BILLBOARD

The municipality said the removal followed a letter of demand issued to the DA by the city’s attorneys, objecting to the content of the billboard and what it described as the harm it caused to the dignity and reputation of the officials depicted.

The municipality said the billboard sought to tarnish the reputation and dignity of individuals who carry a public duty to serve the residents of eThekwini.

City Manager Musa Mbhele welcomed the removal of the billboard.

“Those who serve this City, whether as elected leaders or as appointed officials, must be allowed to discharge their responsibilities with their integrity intact. Robust political contestation is part of our democracy, but it must never descend into the defamation of individuals who are accountable to the public and bound by the law in how they respond,” said Mbhele.

The municipality said it remains committed to ensuring that public officials can perform their duties while being held accountable through lawful and democratic processes.

The DA has previously said the billboard was intended to highlight eThekwini’s ongoing water crisis and hold the city’s political and administrative leadership accountable for the situation.

‘WATER CRISIS HAS WORSENED UNDER THEIR LEADERSHIP’

Initially, Hoosen rejected the demand and said the DA will not remove the billboard unless ordered to do so by a court.

The DA said the billboard does not accuse Xaba, Mbhele and Msweli of being members of a mafia but holds them politically and administratively accountable for the city’s water problems.

“The Mayor, City Manager and Head of Water and Sanitation appear on the billboard because the water crisis has worsened under their leadership. They are the senior political and administrative leaders responsible for ensuring that eThekwini’s water system works,” Hoosen said.