By: Natasha Archary
Ayanda Nyathi helped Drive 959 with Glen Lewis make sense of the uproar over the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) election advert which depicts the burning of the South African flag.
While President Cyril Ramaphosa called the DA’s advert nothing short of treasonous, Ayanda says there’s nothing in South African laws that make the burning of the national flag a crime.
DA leader John Steenhuisen explained that the flag burning in the advert is symbolic and represents the country as it stands which is burning under the African National Congress’ (ANC’s) rule.
The DA says the “Doomsday Coalition” between the ANC, EFF and other dangerous parties in the multi-party charter will be the ruin of the country.
Since the release of the DA’s advert, South Africans have expressed their disappointment, shock and anger at the DA for burning the flag which represents the rainbow nation.
On Thursday, 09 May the SABC rejected the DA’s TV advertisement, and has stated that the advert will not air on the public broadcaster.
“The SABC has been monitoring the outcry from South Africans of all races condemning the advertisement which is currently in circulation on various media platforms.
Likewise, the SABC believes that the advertisement encourages damage of treasured national symbols. The national flag is a national symbol which represents diverse elements of the country and national unity.
Additionally, it is expected that the national flag should be accorded with dignity and respect. As a responsible public broadcaster, the SABC will not want to be part of fuelling the outrage that is evidenced on divergent media platforms.”
