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The Democratic Alliance(DA) has come under fire following the burning of SA flag in their election campaign advert.
The advert, launched at the party’s headquarters in Johannesburg on Sunday, shows the SA flag in the background, with the opening title “This election is about survival”.
Addressing members of the media, DA leader, John Steenhuisen said that if South Africans continue to keep the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is power, South Africa will be burnt to ashes.
“The same straight shooting message is what is depicted in our latest advertisement, and you will see that as voters sit back and allow the ANC and the EFF to take over South Africa, our country will literally be burnt to ashes.
“To be absolutely clear, so there can be no misunderstanding, the visuals do no represent what the DA wants for SA, nor what we want to see happening in SA, but it represents the fear of what will happen if voters don’t go out in large numbers on 29 May and stop the Doomsday Coalition dead in its tracks.
“It is now the patriotic duty of every freedom loving South African who wants to rescue SA from an ANC-EFF Doomsday, to make sure they come out and vote for the DA on the 29th of May. Because, in this election, the stakes are just too high to stay at home,” he stated.
Sports, Arts and Culture minister Zizi Kodwa said the South African flag represents our nationhood and represents the coming together of our people.
He further said 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.
“This action by the Democratic Alliance offends the gains South Africa has made as a free and non-racial democracy, and the blood, tears and sacrifices it took for the country to gain this freedom.
“It offends all South Africans who proudly raise our 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 historical and unpatriotic leaders of DA,” Minister Kodwa remarked.
Former public protector advocate Thuli Madonsela said the burning of the flag is ill advised.
“Seems to show disrespect and disloyalty to the flag, which to many of us is more than a flag but a symbol of triumph against apartheid, In some countries it’s even a crime to burn the flag.”
She continued; “I fully understand the intention but there could have been other metaphoric symbols to communicate the message.
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“I just can’t help a nagging feeling that the designer of the campaign may be harbouring unconscious rage against our flag and what it symbolises.”
Creative | Nerd | Media Junky | Scribe |
Bitten by a media bug in the late 90’s – As a bona-fide Journo, he boast extensive expertise in print, online and broadcast medium and continues to strive to be the best version of himself.
