DA’s new elections campaign raked over the coals by social media users
The short advert depicts an image of the South African flag going up in flames as a voice-over artist warns of the country’s demise under an ANC and EFF coalition.
A still of the DA's latest election campaign. Picture: Screenshot from X/@Our_DA
JOHANNESBURG - In the less than 24 hours since the Democratic Alliance (DA) released its latest elections television advert, there’s been a backlash on social media.
Former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said it was ill-advised.
The short advert depicts an image of the South African flag going up in flames as a voice-over artist warns of the country’s demise under an African National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) coalition.
The burning of the flag is then reversed as the speaker urges voters to unite and rescue the country by supporting the main opposition.
"In this election, for the first time in 30 years, the ANC will lose its majority, but they will do anything to stay in power. Imagine a coalition of the ANC, the violent EFF, and the Zuma faction. Under this coalition of corruption, life will only get worse."
It's not unlawful to burn the South African flag. But the advertisement has been labelled as "swart gevaar" and fear-mongering, with some saying it's tantamount to an act of treason - titles which the DA’s John Steenhuisen rejected.
He told guests who attended the launch of the advert at the party’s Johannesburg offices on Sunday night that what he said was only scare-mongering if it was untrue.
"In South Africa today, it is a cold, hard fact that the ANC and EFF already co-govern with each other in some of the important cities in our country. And as the national and provincial elections have approached, there’s been an even rapid toenadering between the ANC and the EFF."