The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Zizi Kodwa has condemned in the strongest terms the political advertisement by the Democratic Alliance (DA) which shows the burning of the South African flag.
The controversial advert has irked many people across the political spectrum, with many describing it as insensitive and disrespecting the gains of the past 30 years of democracy.
“On a night in which we celebrated 30 years of sporting excellence at the South African Sport Awards, with athletes who have raised our flag high, the Democratic Alliance decided to offend and insult the nation by showing a political advertisement depicting the burning of our national flag.
The South African flag represents our nationhood. It represents the coming together of our people.
The South African flag symbolises unity in our diversity and represents the hopes and aspirations of our nation.
As custodian of all national symbols, which include the South African flag, I strongly condemn the Democratic Alliance advertisement which depicts the burning of the South African flag,” said Kodwa.
The Minister added that the DA’s action offends the progress the country has made as a free and non-racial democracy, and the blood, tears and sacrifices it took for the country to gain its freedom.
It offends all South Africans who proudly raise the country’s flag sky high and appreciate its representation as the flag of a free, democratic, and non-racial nation.
“I shudder to think what other South African compatriots such as Helen Suzman, Zack de Beer, and Van Zyl Slabbert would say about this act of desperation and recklessness demonstrated by the current ahistorical and unpatriotic leaders of DA,” explained Kodwa.
As the country heads to the polls later this month, Kodwa vowed that the country’s flag will not be used as an instrument to sow division and hysteria in our nation.
“In the 30 years of South African democracy and freedom, it has been evident time and time again that our flag is a unifier and an integral component in the building of our nation.
Those who choose to use our flag to divide us will not succeed,” warned the Minister.
Meanwhile, the advert has received mixed reactions on social media.
“The @Our_DA is now showing & celebrating the burning of the South African Flag as part of their election campaign because they yearn for the old apartheid flag that symbolises apartheid.
They are suffering from the Swart Gevaar syndrome,” commented @wandile24796727.
“One thing I know for a FACT: John Steenhuisen and his right-wing white supremacist DA would NEVER burn the apartheid flag.
NEVER!” posted @SneKhumaloSA.
“The approval of this nonsense #The DA election advert is so stupid and doesn’t promote nation building.
The burning of the National Flag shows disrespect and little values to the nation.
I hope people do not vote for them,” posted @tndaba.
Other users highlighted that they have already lodged complaints with the Advertising Regulatory Board and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa regarding the advert.
