Burning Flag Sparks Controversy in DA’s Election Campaign Video

In the build-up to South Africa’s upcoming national elections, which are considered significant since the end of apartheid 30 years ago, the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has released a campaign video that has sparked controversy. The video shows the country’s flag being set alight, with a voiceover saying “This election is about survival.” The DA claims that the footage represents what could happen if the ruling African National Congress (ANC), along with two other parties, remains in power after the May 29 vote. However, President Cyril Ramaphosa, who heads the ANC, labelled the ad “despicable” and “treasonous,” while state broadcaster SABC announced that it would refuse to air the video due to the supposed “outrage” of South Africans. Some argue that the video is accurate given the deep-seated issues facing the African continent’s most developed economy. The DA has previously produced contentious ads during previous elections, although critics believe that burning the flag – which holds tremendous significance for many as a symbol of their liberation from apartheid – goes too far, despite the fact that it is not unlawful to do so in South Africa. The multicoloured flag was introduced following the initial multi-racial polls in 1994, which brought the ANC to power under Nelson Mandela and formally ended apartheid. Thuli Madonsela, who played a crucial role in drafting the new democratic constitution after the fall of apartheid, expressed worry that those responsible for designing the ad might carry unconscious animosity towards the flag. DA leader John Steenhuisen remarked that the video had been “the most effective political advertisement in our democratic history,” asserting that over four million individuals had watched it online, while millions more had seen or listened to it via other broadcasting channels. He argued that Ramaphosa and the ANC’s record of corruption and mismanagement were to blame for the current economic predicament afflicting South Africa, where joblessness stands at an alarming 32%, the highest in the world. Analysts anticipate that the election will serve as a turning point for South Africa and that the ANC will relinquish its parliamentary majority for the first time, necessitating a coalition to maintain power. Some suggest that the DA’s campaign ad is justified, and on Wednesday, political analyst Solly Moeng, a black political analyst, told SABC that “the country is in turmoil, the country is burning,” and that the DA’s depiction of the situation is appropriate. AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa.