The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has taken decisive action against the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for its refusal to air the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) controversial election advertisement.
The ad, which depicts the burning of the South African flag, has ignited a fierce debate about freedom of expression, national symbols, and political messaging.
In the DA’s ad, a solemn narrator speaks over an image of the South African flag slowly turning to ashes. The voiceover delivers a stark message: “For the first time in 30 years, the ANC will lose its majority. But they will do anything to stay in power.
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“Imagine a coalition between the ANC, the violent EFF, and the Zuma faction. Under this coalition of corruption, life will only get worse. This election is about survival.”
The SABC rejected the DA’s advert, citing concerns that it “encourages damage to treasured national symbols.”
However, ICASA’s complaints and compliance committee swiftly intervened, finding that the SABC’s refusal had “no legal basis” under the Electronic Communications Act or related regulations. As a result, ICASA recommended a hefty fine of R500,000 against the public broadcaster.
Watch the ad the SABC banned:
President Cyril Ramaphosa labelled the ad “treasonous” and “despicable,” even though burning the flag as a form of protest is not illegal in South Africa. The DA’s message struck a nerve, prompting accusations that it undermines national unity and dignity.
DA leader John Steenhuisen expressed outrage at the SABC’s decision, vowing to defend the party’s constitutional rights. He stated, “In an unprecedented attack on our democracy, deployed ANC cadres at the SABC have banned the DA’s latest advertisement from the air to hide the truth of how the ANC has burnt our country to the ground.
“This censorship is not only a clampdown on dissent but also provides a foretaste of the assault on our flag that will come under an ANC/EFF Doomsday Coalition. The banning of our ad only reinforced its message: that our constitutional democracy will burn unless millions vote DA.”
As the legal battle unfolds, the burning flag ad remains a powerful symbol of political tension and the struggle for democratic expression. ICASA’s ruling sends a clear message: national symbols may be sacred, but the right to express dissenting views is equally vital. South Africans await the outcome of this clash between patriotism and free speech.
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