The DA has come under fire đ¤ for its latest election advertisement. In the 32-second ad, the SA flag is seen burning as a voiceover says for the first time in 30 years, the ANC will lose its majority.
Then, in a dramatic turn (itâs all very dramatic), weâre told the ANC would do anything to stay in power. Weâre asked to âimagineâ a coalition between the ANC, the âviolent EFF and the Zuma Factionâ, where corruption will run rampant, and life will worsen. The burning is then reversed and the ad shouts at us to unite to rescue SA by voting DA.
Itâs giving Mad Max and Swart Gevaar.
Naturally, the country is divided over it all.
Flag burning hasnât been illegal in SA since 1994. But itâs not exactly tasteful.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, Sports, Art and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa, and former public protector Thuli Madonsela have called the DA out. Madonsela said that while she understood the adâs intention, âthere could have been other metaphoric symbols to communicate the message.â
Kodwa said on Tuesday he was âconsidering further steps to takeâ against the ad in his capacity as a government minister, which is dodgy in itselfâŚ
Acclaimed political journalist Qaanitah Hunter wrote it was disingenuous to say the ANC âwill do anything to stay in powerâ.
âThe ANC has been voted out in Johannesburg, Tshwane, and dozens of other municipalities, and the party has accepted defeat. Forming a coalition government if a party does not have a majority is typical of democracy. It does not have a sinister motive.â
Itâs not the first time the DA has done something dramatic to get SA talking. Earlier this year, it sent a letter to the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and the EU for aid in âhelping to shape the integrity of the upcoming electionsâ.
Whatever the outcome of this latest DA-led shenanigan, South Africans are talking, and in the lead-up to an election of this magnitude, thatâs the most important thing. So, thanks, DA?
- Staff Reporterhttps://explain.co.za/author/staff-reporter/
- Staff Reporterhttps://explain.co.za/author/staff-reporter/
- Staff Reporterhttps://explain.co.za/author/staff-reporter/
- Staff Reporterhttps://explain.co.za/author/staff-reporter/