SOUTH AFRICA WHITE OPPOSITION BURNS NATIONAL FLAG

South Africa’s white-dominated opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has ignited a storm with an advertisement that shows a burning South African flag.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the video as ‘treasonous’ and the ‘most despicable political act that anyone can embark upon.’ He added the act was not illegal, but it was in bad taste as the flag symbolises national unity and triumph against the oppressive apartheid system that ruled until the early 1990s.

The DA has, however, defended the move, saying the advertisement is designed to show South Africans what would happen if the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is re-elected on 29 May, or enter an alliance with the Julius Malema-led Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) or the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, led by long-time ANC president (2007-17) and former South African President Jacob Zuma (2009-18).

Some sections of the white population have publicly expressed their preference for the old apartheid flag. Reports have indicated the flag’s display at mostly white events and functions.

In 2019, the country’s Equality Court ruled that ‘gratuitous displays’ of the apartheid-era flag amounted to hate speech and discrimination, adding that it is a ‘vivid symbol of white supremacy and Black disenfranchisement and suppression.’ The Supreme Court of Appeals upheld that decision last month.