The ANC Veterans’ League in North West has denounced the DA’s flag-burning advert, saying it’s unmasked the party’s true colours.

The league’s provincial spokesperson, Nat Serache, did not mince his words when he condemned the DA’s actions, asserting the advert is a relic of apartheid, seeking to sabotage gains of democracy. In a scathing rebuke, Serache lamented the DA’s willingness to stoop so low for political gain, labelling the party as bankrupt of moral integrity and with no respect for national symbols.

“We know and have always said, the DA is nothing but a relic of apartheid who will stop at nothing to sabotage and reverse the gains of our democratic dispensation,” he said.

“To us and all other self-loving South Africans, this flag represents our victory over the terrible apartheid system which the United Nations had declared a crime against humanity. It can only be burned by those who are still mourning the demise of apartheid, which (apartheid) was destroyed through the blood, sweat and toil of its victims.”

The use of such imagery continues to reignite debates surrounding the boundaries of political discourse and the responsibility of political parties to uphold democratic norms and values.

Despite facing widespread criticism, DA leader John Steenhuisen has defended the advert, arguing its purpose was to provoke discomfort and stimulate public discourse. 

“However, the justification offered by Steenhuisen has done little to ease concerns about the party's tactics, particularly in the lead-up to the elections,” Serache said.

In assessing the potential impact of the advert on the DA’s electoral prospects, University of the Free State political analyst Professor Sethulego Matebesi offered a complex perspective. While acknowledging the controversy surrounding the advert, Matebesi suggested that it may not necessarily spell doom for the party at the polls.

Political analyst at the UFS, Sethugelo Matebesi. Picture: OFM News

However, he raised critical questions about the methods employed by the DA in conveying its message, highlighting the need for political parties to exercise restraint and uphold ethical standards in their campaign tactics.

President Ramaphosa condemned the DA for what he perceived as an attempt to undermine the national flag for political gain.

“All we want is to build South Africa, to unite people of South Africa around the flag. People died for the flag of the nation, they rally around the flag of the nation and it is about us. So they are destroying that unity and identity that we all have. So, it is totally unacceptable,” slammed Ramaphosa.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg