The Democratic Alliance has come under fire 🤭 for its latest election advertisement. In the 32-second ad, the South African flag is seen burning as a voiceover, which lets the viewer know that for the first time in 30 years, the African National Congress (ANC) is set to lose its majority. 

Then, in a dramatic turn (it’s all very dramatic), the voice says that the ANC would do anything to stay in power. The camera pans out as we see the flag burning, and we’re asked to “imagine” a coalition between the ANC, the “violent EFF and the Zuma Faction.” The ad says that under these coalitions, corruption will run rampant, and life will worsen. We’re then told that this election is about survival. The burning is then reversed and the ad shouts at us to unite to rescue South Africa by voting DA.

It’s giving Mad Max and Swart Gevaar.

Naturally, the country is divided between those who see nothing wrong with the ad and those who consider it extreme.

Flag burning isn’t illegal in the country. It hasn’t been since 1994. 

Former public protector Thuli Madonsela was one of the first people to call out the DA for the ad, saying that the act seemed disrespectful and disloyal to the flag. “In some countries, it’s even a crime to burn the flag,” she tweeted. Madonsela said that while she understood the ad’s intention, “there could have been other metaphoric symbols to communicate the message.”

The DA has stood firm, saying it wanted to show that the country is in trouble. “The single greatest threat to our mission to rescue South Africa, is the very real risk of a Doomsday Coalition between the ANC, the EFF, and possibly MK and small sell-out parties like the Patriotic Alliance seizing power after the election,” DA leader John Steenhuisen said during his Rescue South Africa Tour in East London, Eastern Cape.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called the DA out, saying that while the Government defends freedom of expression, people must exercise this right with respect for all people and in a way that does not incite violence. “To manipulate or exploit national symbols for personal or partisan gain is disrespectful and also undermines the essence of democracy and civic responsibility,” the president said. 

Sports, Art and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa has condemned the DA for the flag burning. “The South African flag will not be used as an instrument to sow division and hysteria in our nation. In the 30 years of South African democracy and freedom, it has been evident time and time again that our flag is a unifier and an integral component in the building our nation. Those who choose to use our flag to divide us will not succeed,” he said. Kodwa also revealed, on Tuesday afternoon, that he was “considering further steps to take” against the ad. The minister revealed that he had instructed his acting director-general, advisors and the legal unit of his department to advise him on what steps to take against people who “desecrate and denigrate” national symbols. 

DA spokesperson Solly Malatsi has called Kodwa’s statement a “deflection. “Let’s not forget that Minister Kodwa himself is currently embroiled in serious corruption allegations, including charges related to a R1.6 million bribe,” Malatsi said. This is in reference to allegations that Kodwa received over R1 million in bribes from EOH.

It’s not the first time the DA has done or said something this dramatic to get South Africans talking. Earlier this year, the DA wrote to the United States of America’s Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and the European Union (EU) for aid in “helping to shape the integrity of the upcoming elections”.

Whatever the outcome of this latest DA-led shenanigan, South Africans are talking, and in the lead-up to an election of this magnitude, that is the most important thing. So, thanks, DA?