WATCH: DA under fire for burning SA flag in new election ad

The short advert shows an image of the South African flag going up in flames.

The advert was launched at the party's headquarters in Johannesburg on Sunday evening.

It has since been published on various social media platforms.

Addressing the media on Sunday evening, DA leader John Steenhuisen said the party wanted to convey an urgent warning on the perils faced by the country’s constitutional democracy.

"What you will see in this advertisement is a symbolic representation of the future that awaits South Africa if people do not vote for the DA.

“It is a warning of what this country’s future will look like under a Doomsday Coalition between the ANC, the EFF, and perhaps also MK and mercenary small parties like the Patriotic Alliance," said  Steenhuisen.

In the advert, a voiceover can be heard warning of South Africa's demise under an ANC and EFF coalition.

Steenhuisen believes the ANC, EFF and the Zuma faction could decide to work together after the 2024 elections, making things worse for South Africa.

“The Doomsday Coalition will expropriate property without compensation and abolish private property rights. The Doomsday Coalition will nationalise and destroy foreign investment, businesses, banks and mines.

“The Doomsday Coalition will plunge this country into ethnic and racial conflict the likes of which it has never witnessed before. The cold, hard truth is that the Doomsday Coalition between the ANC and EFF has already taken over Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni with the help of its little proxies.

“Next year, it will be knocking on the doors of the Union Buildings.

“This is a fact that should send shivers down the spines of every patriot and freedom-loving person in this country," said Steenhuisen.

The advert did not land well with South Africans, who felt like the DA was disrespecting the flag.

Former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela was amongst the first people to comment, saying the burning of the flag was ill-advised.

"It seems to show disrespect and disloyalty to the flag, which to many of us is more than a flag but a symbol of triumph against apartheid, In some countries, it’s even a crime to burn the flag," said Madonsela.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) spokesperson  Clayson Monyela also responded by saying that the public outrage was fully justified.

"Two issues.

Burning a national symbol of unity 🇿🇦. The public outrage is fully justified.

A bold but false claim that "for the first time, the ANC WILL lose its majority". It is stated as a fact, but the election outcome is yet to be determined. If they had said, "opinion polls suggest that the ANC will lose its majority..." it would be acceptable. Such lies discourage voters & fuel apathy," said Monyela.

The DA responded to the criticisms.

" This advert sets out the critical choice that our country faces in this election.

Under this coalition of corruption, life will only get worse. And the very fabric of our nation, as symbolised by the burning of the South African flag in this latest advertisement, will be destroyed.

This election is no longer just about politics. It’s about survival.

“Whilst this advert shows the burning of our nation’s beloved flag, the reconstruction of the flag afterwards represents that it is possible to rescue South Africa and turn this situation around if we make the right choice," said the DA on X.

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