Flying flag of people’s choice
President Cyril Ramaphosa has been commended for swiftly stopping the controversial multimillion-rand giant flag project initiated by Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa.
Political analyst Prof Mazwe Majola, a specialist on governance, leadership and management, expressed shock at the whopping R22 million that the flag project was expected to cost if it went ahead.
He believed the president acted swiftly and should also move to deal with Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan over the continuous Eskom load shedding.
Ramaphosa told Mthethwa to cancel the project. The president also mentioned the issue during his presidential imbizo in Mpumalanga yesterday.
He said the fact that the project was stopped showed the government listened to the people.
The 100m-tall national flag pole was to be erected at Freedom Park in Pretoria as a sign of reconciliation and nation-building.
But the cost raised a huge outcry, with many people saying it was a waste of taxpayers’ money.