{
  "id": 11468095,
  "title": "eThekwini municipality welcomes the removal of the DA billboard",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/ethekwini-municipality-welcomes-the-removal-of-the-da-billboard",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T15:21:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/ethekwini-municipality-welcomes-the-removal-of-the-da-billboard/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "eThekwini Municipality has welcomed the removal of a Democratic Alliance (DA) billboard that targeted city officials, including Mayor Cyril Xaba, City Manager Musa Mbhele and Water head Ednick Msweli. The billboard, which was taken down following complaints from eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba and senior city officials, featured pictures of the political leaders with the words: “You can stop the water tanker mafia, along the N2 highway.”\n\nThe DA had erected the billboard to accuse the eThekwini officials of evading accountability and allowing the city to suffer from 13,000 active water leaks, with 65% of the city's water being lost every month. However, eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Senzo Mzila welcomed the removal of the billboard, stating that while political debate is essential for democracy, it must not cross the line into defamation or attempts to undermine the dignity of officials serving in the city.\n\nThe DA has defended the billboard, accusing eThekwini officials of evading accountability and refusing to remove it after it was taken down. DA mayoral candidate in eThekwini Haniff Hoosen has vowed to continue holding officials accountable, emphasizing that the billboard was erected to expose the truth behind the water crisis in the city.",
  "summary": "It's alleged the property owner wanted the billboard removed after being harassed.",
  "key_points": [
    "eThekwini Municipality welcomes removal of DA billboard.",
    "Billboard targeted city officials, including Mayor Cyril Xaba.",
    "DA defends billboard, accuses officials of evading accountability."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}