eThekwini mayor threatens legal action over DA ‘water tanker mafia’ billboard

· The South African

EThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba and two senior municipal officials have threatened legal action against the Democratic Alliance (DA) over an election billboard along the N2 in Durban which links them to a “water tanker mafia”.

The billboard features photographs of Xaba, City Manager Musa Mbhele and the municipality’s Executive Director for Water and Sanitation, Ednick Msweli, alongside the words: “You can stop the water tanker mafia.”

Visit grenadier.co.za for more information.

ETHEKWINI MAYOR SAYS DA ‘WATER TANKER MAFIA’ BILLBOARD IS DEFAMATORY

The billboard was unveiled on Monday, 28 September, by DA KwaZulu-Natal leader Sithembiso Ngema and the party’s eThekwini mayoral candidate, Haniff Hoosen.

The DA said the billboard was intended to highlight the city’s ongoing water crisis and what it described as the leadership responsible for the crisis and the alleged “water tanker mafia”.

Through their lawyers, Xaba, Mbhele and Msweli have given the DA 24 hours to remove the billboard and issue a public apology and retraction.

The lawyers argue that the wording is accusatory and implies that the three officials are involved in organised criminal activity.

“This directly implies that each of my clients is involved or complicit in some or other organised criminal syndicate or activity, that, in turn, has the consequent further implications of unethical and dishonest conduct,” the lawyers said.

They further described the allegations as false and unfounded, saying they had caused and would continue to cause harm to the reputation, professional standing and dignity of the three officials.

The legal demand also calls for the DA to remove any videos, statements, photographs or social media posts in which the phrase “water tanker mafia” is used in relation to the officials.

The lawyers have warned that they will approach the High Court if the DA does not comply with the demands.

DA eThekwini mayoral candidate Haniff Hoosen unveiled the election billboard on Monday, 28 September. Image: Facebook/Haniff Hoosen

DA REFUSES TO REMOVE BILLBOARD

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

The DA says 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.

The DA has cited the city’s water losses and reliance on water tankers as part of its campaign messaging ahead of the 4 November local government elections.

Read full story at source