Haniff Hoosen

Democratic Alliance

eThekwini

Democratic Alliance’s Mayoral Candidate for eThekwini Haniff Hoosen.

Picture: @jsteenhuisen/X.

The Person

The 54-year-old has been involved in politics for about three decades. He played an instrumental role in merging the Independent Democrats into the DA. He served in the National Assembly for 17 years, first for the ID and then for the DA. He was initially fielded for the eThekwini Mayoral position in 2016.

The Message

Hoosen’s pitch is that Durban deserves a government that works for its people. He argues the ruling administration has abandoned the city’s poorest residents. He blames mismanagement and corruption for driving skilled young people away, his own daughter among them.

The Agenda

The DA’s 10-point recovery plan commits R10 billion to rebuild the network and ringfence water revenue. It adds public performance tracking, private-sector help, a rapid-repair force and leak-detection technology. It also promises an investigation into the so-called water mafia. Beyond water, Hoosen pledges to restore every wastewater treatment plant, clear sewage from the beaches and fix potholes and streetlights.

The DA also secured a High Court order to compel the city to fix broken wastewater infrastructure. Hoosen also wants open tenders and a crackdown on corruption and patronage via lifestyle audits.

The Challenge

The DA is casting the 4 November election as a straight choice between a DA-led city and an MK-led one. It is urging voters not to split their support, to avoid repeating 2021, when the ANC lost its outright majority but kept control through coalitions.