Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read | 11 December 2025

DA mayoral candidate Haniff Hoosen challenges eThekwini’s “blatant misinformation,” vowing to fight unlawful senior appointments as the high-stakes case heads back to court in February. 📸

This follows a public statement by DA mayoral candidate Haniff Hoosen, who dismissed the municipality’s claims that the party had abandoned its legal challenge, calling the assertion “a blatant lie” that exposes a deeper “leadership crisis in eThekwini.”

Hoosen, who personally attended the court proceedings, said the municipality’s version of events was not only false but deliberately misleading. “I was in court yesterday. The mayor was not in court yesterday and neither was the MEC,” he said, emphasising that the judge recognised the “serious significance” of the matter and agreed to prioritise the case on the roll early next year.

According to Hoosen, all legal teams mutually agreed to 18–20 February 2026 as the court dates, a decision recorded in the draft order: “It is hereby recorded that the parties will approach the judge president… and that counsel are available for the hearing of the matter on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of February 2026.”

“We did not abandon anything,” Hoosen stressed, rejecting the municipality’s narrative as an attempt to “sow confusion” and divert attention from the real issue — the allegedly unlawful appointment of senior managers lacking required qualifications.

The DA’s application seeks to block the permanent appointment of officials whom Hoosen claims are responsible for Durban’s deepening crisis. He highlighted “massive water issues,” a broken sanitation system spilling raw sewage into the ocean, decaying roads, and failing infrastructure, all while “60% of water is getting wasted because of old infrastructure that hasn’t been maintained.”

Hoosen criticised the municipality for attempting to reward the very individuals linked to these failures with “a higher salary increased by R1 million.” He pointed to one candidate earmarked to lead Metro Police who “doesn’t have the necessary qualifications… the job requirement is a minimum law degree.”

He further accused the municipality of rushing contract signatures within 48 hours, despite legal requirements that prevent such a rush, and of pushing for salary increases just days after the appointments.

Calling the municipality staff “professional liars,” Hoosen said the DA will fight “to the end degree” to stop the appointments and protect governance integrity.

With the judge signalling the matter’s importance by fast-tracking it on the court roll, Hoosen expressed confidence: “There isn’t any court that’s going to say, ‘You’ve operated unlawfully, you can continue.’”

Further developments are expected as the case returns to court in February.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Haniff Hoosen.