South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has criticized the Democratic Alliance (DA) for an election ad featuring a national flag engulfed in fire. The DA defended the image, claiming it aimed to highlight the country's troubles. Ramaphosa called the ad an "abuse" and argued it undermined the unity of the country. The ad features a voice-over warning that life will only worsen under the African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power since 1994. The flag is then reversed, and the speaker urges voters to support the DA.
The DA's campaigning has become increasingly fractious ahead of the 29 May general election. Ramaphosa has acknowledged the country's problems but also emphasized the transformation it has made in the last three decades. The ANC led the struggle against white-minority rule and the legalized form of racial discrimination known as apartheid. Ramaphosa emphasized that South Africans are more educated, empowered, and healthier than they were under apartheid and urged people not to threaten that progress.
