HELEN ZILLE | DA won’t budge over Lesufi shower billboard

DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille has insisted that the Democratic Alliance will not remove its billboard featuring Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.

This is after the African National Congress (ANC) threatened legal action, claiming it is unauthorised, demeaning and violates the Electoral Act. 

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The billboard, unveiled by the DA this week, depicts Lesufi in a shower with the words “The ANC showers in hotels. You have no water. Vote DA to put water in your taps”.

It refers to Lesufi's admission to showering at a hotel at a recent press conference about Johannesburg’s water crisis.

Zille confirmed that the party has received a letter from the ANC's legal team, demanding that the billboard and accompanying social media posts be taken down within 12 hours. 

“It apparently tarnishes the Premier’s image. They think we make him look worse than he already is, but our response is that you’ve already done the work of tarnishing your image. You need no help from us.”

She argued that the billboard highlights the ANC’s disconnect from the city’s residents, who face the same struggles as the Premier but lack access to the same solutions.

“It is completely out of touch. When I was in a tavern in Soweto, and leaders came up on the screen on the television, there was a big booing from the crowd. It again reflects how distant the ANC leadership has become from the voters.”

She also highlighted the city’s financial crisis, which she emphasised is a result of the ANC’s mismanagement. 

“The backlog for maintenance for infrastructure is about R300 billion, and the entire capital budget is R1.7 billion. You can see the discrepancy there, and that is exactly the core of Joburg’s crisis.”

RELATED: Helen Zille warns neglected infrastructure driving Johannesburg water crisis

To listen to Zille in conversation with 702’s Bongani Bingwa, use the audio player below: