By Motshwari Mofokeng
A political fight over a controversial billboard along Durban’s N2 has escalated, with eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba and two senior municipal officials threatening legal action against the Democratic Alliance (DA) ahead of the 4 November local government elections.
The billboard, unveiled by DA eThekwini mayoral candidate Haniff Hoosen, features Xaba, City Manager Musa Mbhele and Water and Sanitation Executive Director Ednick Msweli alongside the words: “You can stop the water tanker mafia.”
The officials’ lawyers have demanded that the billboard be removed and an apology issued, arguing that the message implies their involvement in organised criminal activity. They have warned that the matter could be taken to the High Court.
The DA, however, has refused to remove the billboard. Hoosen says it is intended to hold the city’s political and administrative leadership accountable for the water crisis.
The party claims eThekwini has about 13,000 active water leaks and loses billions of litres of water each month. These figures and the DA’s interpretation of responsibility remain disputed.
For residents facing dry taps and long waits for water tankers, the political battle has a very real human cost. As election campaigning intensifies, water remains one of the issues most closely linked to everyday life in Durban.
email: motshwari@onenews.co.za
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