South Africans feel conflicted after the DA showed the SA flag burning

 By Onthatile Mahlangu 

South Africans are experiencing a mix of emotions following the Democratic Alliance's depiction of the burning South African flag.

South African flag burning: Screenshot from the advertisement 

The recent release of an advertisement by the Democratic Alliance (DA), featuring the burning of the South African flag, has left residents of South Africa with conflicting emotions.

 The advertisement triggered a debate nationwide, with opinions spanning from outrage to agreement with its message.

The burning of our flag is ill-advised and 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, according to Prof Thulisile Madonsela.

Madonsela said she understood the intention but there could have been other metaphoric symbols to communicate the message.

Ivyn Sambo said that the DA may hate the ANC and what they are doing to the country, but they cannot burn the flag and think that is okay. The flag represents South African history and all those people who died for freedom and rights.

However, among the criticism, some individuals agreed with the portrayal presented in the advertisement.

Ivo Vegter said the national party is trying to suggest that the ANC is burning the country (as symbolized by the flag) to ashes and that the DA wishes to save the country from fate.

Mandla Sithole also said it is not made to disrespect the flag, but to warn against the dangers of voting in another corrupt government.

“What is being displayed under a coalition of ANC, EFF, and Zuma the country will burn, represented as our flag. There is no rage towards the flag or what it symbolises, it is just a visual metaphor," Brian Van Dyk stated.

The DA mentioned that the advert sets out the critical choice that the country faces in this election.

It emphasised that under the current coalition of corruption, the fabric of the nation itself is at risk, as symbolised by the burning flag.

According to the DA, the election is no longer just about politics, it is about survival.

“Whilst this advert shows the burning of our nation's beloved flag, the reconstruction of the flag afterwards represents that it is possible to rescue South Africa and turn this situation around if we make the right choice”.