The Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture received a briefing yesterday from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture on its planned Monumental Flag project. The Minister, Mr Nathi Mthethwa, led a strong delegation comprising the Deputy Minister Ms Nocawe Mafu and the Director-General, Mr Vusi Mkhize.
In presenting a feasibility study on the flag, Mr Mthethwa told the committee that the monumental flag concept, first mentioned during the department’s Budget Vote, is envisaged as a way to promote the country while fostering social cohesion and patriotism. “One of the department’s mandate is to transform the heritage landscape through building museums, building monuments and change the colonial and apartheid names. Public spaces are still skewed against the majority in this country. They are dominated by symbols that reflect apartheid and colonialism.”
Mr Mthethwa said a similar programme #Iamtheflag, run with the Department of Basic Education, is ongoing and has seen South African flags erected in school grounds throughout the country. “In partnership with the taxi industry, we are also doing a similar project. One hardly finds a taxi without a South African flag. The monumental flag is one such programme and is central to our democracy.”
Mr Mthethwa explained that the department is trying to memorialise South Africa’s democracy and the intention with the flag is to create a permanent symbol of that democracy. “This is a marker of a break from our colonial and apartheid past. It epitomises democratic values of non-tribalism, non-racism and other values that our forebears aspired to,” he said.
The monumental flag will embody South Africa’s foundational principles, as enshrined in the Constitution, and will stand as a constant reminder of what our forbearers fought and stood for. It will be situated in Pretoria and will be illuminated.
Members of the committee asked whether the money used on the project could not be better spent on other budget items or scholarships for artists. They also asked questions about the project’s economic value and whether it will create jobs. Mr Mkhize responded by saying that the flag is intended as a tourist attraction that will have a positive effect on economic activity around the site.
“The full context is beyond a pole; this is intended for economic gains. The project started long before the issues that have been raised. Government is doing programmes and support for the victims of floods; unemployment is a pain, but the programme addresses a component of government work. There will be jobs created, this is about our identity.” He also said raising the plight of artists was disingenuous considering that R600 million was spent in trying to cushion artists from the effects of Covid-19.
Deputy Director-General Mr Vusithemba Ndima took the committee through the finer details of the project, saying that Delta Build Environments Consultants were tasked with the feasibility study.
Mr Mthethwa added: "There never was a moment where the budget was sufficient for everything; we have a mandate. People will always want clinics. Our mandates are different."
During the meeting, the committee also received responses from South African Rugby Union on the matter of its CEO, Mr Jurie Roux.
Sibongile Maputi
18 May 2022
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