President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the DA's controversial election ad, calling it treasonous. Mr Ramaphosa was speaking at the official inauguration of the new Home Office and 100 mobile truck office in Mokopane, Limpopo.
He said the interior ministry's mobile trucks would help reduce the flow of people into the ministry's offices.
Mr Ramaphosa said the ad was an insult to the country. The DA's election video depicts the South African flag slowly burning out.
The narrator said the election was about surviving the damage inflicted on the country by the ruling African National Congress.
The video ends with a restored photo of the South African flag, bearing the party's election theme: “Unite to Save South Africa''.
Mr Ramaphosa insists that all South Africans must unite under the South African flag because people have died for it.
He said the DA's advertisement sought to destroy the unity and identity of South Africans and was completely unacceptable.
“As for burning the national flag, even in political advertising. It's treasonous, our country's red flag is a sacred item in the life of our country. It's that flag that unites us all. . It's despicable for a political party to go out and burn a symbol of unity, a symbol of who we are as a nation, while seeking self-expression. And I think this is treasonous, especially for political expediency. Any organization that does that kind of thing should really be ashamed of itself, because it's the most despicable political act that anyone can undertake, especially when you're campaigning for votes. Because you are voting for a party that is trying to destroy South Africa, who is destroying the symbols that unite us all,” Ramaphosa says.
Video: Election 2024 – Ramaphosa slams DA ad as treason:
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said the ministry would continue to expand offices within hospitals and shopping malls. The new initiative will allow newborns to be registered immediately after birth.
“We have already opened offices of the Ministry of Home Affairs in 161 hospitals and we are also opening offices in shopping malls so that people can shop and access Ministry of Home Affairs offices. We have already opened an office in Menlyn Mall, Pretoria.”
Local residents in Mokopane have welcomed the construction of a new office and mobile truck.
“I'm grateful that the Home Affairs Bureau is located in the city, so the elderly can also use it,'' says a local resident.
“Today I am happy because I can receive services next door. I would like to thank the Ministry of the Interior,” explains another member of the community.
The ministry has also introduced kiosk machines that function like ATMs where people can quickly print various certificates for themselves or apply for ID cards and passports.
Video: President Ramaphosa unveils mobile home office in Limpopo:
