'Fire this man. Please' - Celebs react to Nathi Mthethwa's R22m flag project
Updated | By Tamlyn Canham
Social media users have slammed the Arts and Culture Department's plans for a monumental R22-million flag.
South Africans are weighing in on the news that Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa plans to spend R22-million on a flag project.
The department briefed parliament on a feasibility study for the proposed project on Tuesday. Mthethwa told the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture that the Monumental Flag project will be a symbol of national pride.
“One of the department’s mandate is to transform the heritage landscape through building museums, building monuments and change the colonial and apartheid names.... This is a marker of a break from our colonial and apartheid past. It epitomises democratic values of non-tribalism, non-racism and other values that our forebears aspired to," he said.
If given the green light, the flag would be erected at the Freedom Park Heritage Site in Pretoria. The flagpole will be 120m high while the actual flag will be 10m by 15m. The flag will also light up at night.
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The plan has been met with heavy criticism. Many social media users felt the money could be put to better use. Several high-profile stars, including Bonang Matheba, shared their opinion.
"Fire this man. Please," she tweeted. Queen B added in another post: 'You’re useless and we all hate you."
South Africa's media darling also tagged the minister in one of her posts.
"You have no clue what you’re doing. Go away! @NathiMthethwaSA," the 34-year-old tweeted.
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Fire this man. Please. https://t.co/GnSqyRP7Ww
— Bonang Matheba 👑 (@Bonang) May 17, 2022
You’re useless and we all hate you @NathiMthethwaSA ❤️
— Bonang Matheba 👑 (@Bonang) May 17, 2022
You have no clue what you’re doing. Go away! @NathiMthethwaSA
— Bonang Matheba 👑 (@Bonang) May 17, 2022
Media personality Penny Lebyane found herself on Twitter's trending list after sharing a different opinion on the matter.
"I have not studied the feasibility document on the Flag to cost 22 Million so I’m limited there but it doesn’t sound like a lot of money for something that will out live me. Hating the minister can’t be the reason why creatives themselves don’t commit to fixing their problems," she tweeted.
Penny added in a separate tweet: "Obviously @NathiMthethwaSA is not liked by a whole industry that hates itself so nothing new there for me. But l have a question. How did they build your favorites The Eiffel Tower in Parys, Statue Of Liberty in New York, Christ The Redemeer in Rio De Janeiro? Why do u like them?"
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Obviously @NathiMthethwaSA is not liked by a whole industry that hates itself so nothing new there for me. But l have a question. How did they build your favorites The Eiffel Tower in Parys, Statue Of Liberty in NewYork, Christ The Redemeer in Rio De Janeiro? Why do u like them?
— PennyLebyane💚PennyLebyaneDotAfrica (@PennyLebyane) May 18, 2022
I have not studied the feasibility document on the Flag to cost 22 Million so I’m limited there but it doesn’t sound like a lot of money for something that will out live me. Hating the minister can’t be the reason why creatives themselves don’t commit to fixing their problems.
— PennyLebyane💚PennyLebyaneDotAfrica (@PennyLebyane) May 18, 2022
Robert Marawa clapped back at Penny's tweet about the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.
"They were NOT flags!! They were NOT vanity projects in a struggling economy of mass youth unemployment caused by a thieving government!!"
They were NOT flags!! They were NOT vanity projects in a struggling economy of mass youth unemployment caused by a thieving government!!
— robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) May 18, 2022
Here's some leisure reading.👇🏾👇🏾 pic.twitter.com/Lculrj19w1
DJ Ms Party also disagreed with Penny.
"Penny, this is ridiculous expenditure. The Eiffel Tower was built to celebrate 100 years since the French revolution. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France for the US’s liberty. These were to celebrate progress and the betterment of peoples lives. What are we celebrating?" the DJ asked.
Penny, this is ridiculous expenditure. The Eiffel Tower was built to celebrate 100 years since the French revolution. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France for the US’s liberty. These were to celebrate progress and the betterment of peoples lives. What are we celebrating?
— Ms Party (@Olwee) May 18, 2022
Here's a look at what other social media users had to say.
No matter what Nathi Mthethwa, Penny or anyone else may say. There is now way South Africa can spend so much money on a lousy glow in the dark flag. Asimusa nje ukwenziwa izilima!!!!
— Teddy♥ (@Thee_lovables) May 18, 2022
Nathi Mthethwa in the flag interview 😂😅😂🙆🏽😳#nathimthethwa
— Musakwandile Mseleku (@Musawenkanyamba) May 18, 2022
22 Million#eNCA#PowerToTruth pic.twitter.com/8jrv2L7VFS
"During the day it's visible, at night it lits but most importantly it's continuous educational." - nathi mthethwa
— Brema (@bremzil_picasso) May 18, 2022
hence the R22 million 😭😭😭
this country is joke
Lol, Nathi Mthethwa says most South Africans are not familiar with the country's symbols. Jwang when they make you draw the flag and the code of arms from grade 1 to 12.
— Tebogo Kganakga (@Ntwamala_) May 17, 2022
#eNCA
Don't worry about Stellenbosch guys. After Nathi Mthethwa erects his R22 million flag, he says there will be unity in S.A.
— Suntosh Pillay (@suntoshpillay) May 17, 2022
We must support the honourable minister in his quest to unite our divided land.
Aloota Continua 💸💸💸✊🏿
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Main image credit: Instagram/@bonang_m
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