Stung by criticism, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa on Thursday bowed to pressure to scrap the plan to erect a massive flag that lights up at night for R22 million.
Mthethwa’s attempt to justify the plan on television was met with an avalanche of criticism on radio and social media.
“Over the past few days the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture has followed and taken note of public discourse that has unfolded in respect of the envisaged Monumental Flag,” said Mthethwa.
“The diversity of voices around this important heritage project is a welcome celebration of our country’s vibrant constitutional democracy and the freedoms that must be upheld beyond posterity.
“It also bodes well for one of the pillars of social cohesion which is an active citizenry.
“In upholding these ethos and the inalienable rights of citizens to be heard, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture has directed his department to review the process related to the Monumental Flag in its totality.”
