Mr Bongani Msomi
UDM Secretary General
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) notes with concern the recent ruling by the Equality Court on the matter between The National Mandela Foundation Trust and with Afriforum NPC and others.
The UDM is of the view that the relief sought and eventually acceded to by the Deputy Judge President of the High Court was very generous and too broad.
The idea of allowing a flag which was used as a symbol of subjugation for the majority of the people of this country to continue to be used for genuine journalistic, academic or artistic purpose is problematic. This might be construed differently by other people, especially those that had the audacity to challenge the relief sought by the applicant in the matter. The issue might arise with regards to the interpretation of these instances, where this flag can perhaps be used, hence the arrogance we saw on Twitter from Afriforum’s leader Ernst Roets tweeting in promoting or popularizing the flag just after the decision had been made by the Equality Court.
The UDM is of the firm belief that the flag with all the other symbols or traces of the colonial rule must be banned from the public view. Those that sort to display these symbols of apartheid ought to be punished in terms of the law. Apartheid is now a criminal offence in this country.
The flag and other symbols of apartheid belong to the museums. They are to be used for history purposes and generations to come to see where we come from as a nation. The South African society must be strict and firm with democracy the country which was achieved through sacrifice by many and some paid with their own lives.
The UDM has a strong view that these symbols of apartheid must not be tolerated as they can bring a negative impact on what has been done or achieved to realise social cohesion in our beloved country.
Issued by: Mr Bongani Msomi
UDM Secretary General
I support you on this. That flag is an eye sore,chest pain to all those who were bundled into a yellow van straight to the police stations. It was there flying high. Can one walk down the suburban streets of Sandton waving Nazi flag?.