A massive political fight has broken out after the African National Congress (ANC) demanded that the Democratic Alliance (DA) remove a controversial billboard targeting Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
The billboard went up on Tuesday, 3 March, on Stormvoël Road in Tshwane.
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It shows Lesufi taking a shower with the message: “The ANC showers in hotels. You have no water. Vote DA to put water in your taps.”
The DA said the campaign shines a light on the struggles residents face with water cuts in Gauteng.
But the ANC is fuming and has formally written to the DA, demanding the billboard be taken down within 12 hours.
According to DA Federal Council chairwoman Helen Zille, the party will not remove the billboard.
Zille explained the image is based on comments Lesufi made when he revealed he had to book into hotels to shower during water supply problems.
“The billboard reveals the truth facing Gauteng residents,” Zille said.
She said the ANC couldn’t give any legal reason for the billboard to be removed. She claimed the ruling party was simply upset because it damages Lesufi’s image.
“We would like to reassure the ANC that there’s nothing that the DA can do to tarnish Mr Lesufi’s reputation more than he has done already,” she said.
Zille also said many residents can’t afford hotel showers while they deal with dry taps and service delivery failures.
However, the ANC in Greater Tshwane slammed the billboard as a desperate election stunt.
Regional secretary George Matjila accused the DA of running a misleading media campaign to make it look like there’s a crisis in the City of Tshwane.
Matjila said the ANC-led government is fixing water challenges and other service delivery issues that were allegedly created during the DA’s eight-year leadership of the city.
He also accused the DA of exaggerating water shortages and spreading false information about the city’s money.
“The ANC-led coalition government is fixing the mess created by the DA, including neglected infrastructure and financial mismanagement,” he said.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Gauteng has also criticised the billboard.
Provincial spokesman Nkosithethile Bonga described the campaign as misleading and distasteful.
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“The billboard is disingenuous, dishonest and distasteful. The premier already apologised for the unfortunate remarks he made,” Bonga said.
This controversy comes as political parties ramp up campaigning ahead of the next local government elections, with tensions between the ANC and DA once again spilling into the public.
