President Cyril Ramaphosa says he told Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa to cancel the controversial R22-million project to erect a 100m flagpole at Freedom Park in Pretoria. On Thursday Mthethwa announced that he "directed his department to review the process related to the monumental flag in its totality". However, Ramaphosa's comments emphatically state that the project has been cancelled.
The ANC government has already spent R1.7 million on Minister Nathi Mthethwa's R22 million Giant Flag before any construction has even begun. Let us stop them before they spend more! The DA vehemently opposes this vanity project while citizens, and especially children, are literally staving of hunger.
Mthethwa appeared before the sports, art and culture portfolio committee on Tuesday. His department also presented a feasibility study on the development of the project.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has been criticised for its plans to erect a monumental South African flag in Pretoria. The feasibility study will cost R5m, while the installation of the flag will cost R17m.