By Thys Khiba – The minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa confirmed that he directed his office to review the process related to the Monumental Flag in its totality on Thursday morning.
This comes after South Africans reacts with different voices regarding the flag at Freedom Park was set to cost R22-million.
“The diversity of voices around this important heritage project are 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,” said the department in a statement.
Mthethwa said they are a listening government and they have decided to listen to the views of South Africans. He confirmed that his department is going back to the drawing board to review the finance and costs of the monumental flag.
“In striving to transform the cultural and heritage landscape of our democratic society, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will continue to be driven by the pursuit of the socio-economic dividend for the country, as well as the historical, symbolic, spiritual and aesthetic values and identity of a democratic South Africa and its people.”
The department to continue to say that they are given a responsibility to transform South Africa’s heritage landscape by building monuments, memorials, museums, changing colonial and apartheid names as well as the overarching injunction heal the divisions of the past.
Meanwhile, the Democaric Alliance has welcomed the decision by Mthethwa to review the process related to the flag.
“We welcome the review process and avail ourselves to adviceon how the money can be better spent.”
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