R22m monument flag is lunacy, unnecessary - OUTA
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has described the proposal by Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa to erect a flag monument at the Freedom Park Heritage Site in Pretoria as lunacy.
Mthethwa has defended the government's R22.5 million flag project amid mounting criticism, saying the project is part of the renewal of the heritage landscape and a symbol of unity and democracy.
However, Outa's Wayne Duvenage says there are a lot of other issues that need money.
"It is sad that government can find time and money to make a massive flag when we have bigger issues to deal with. It sends a message that government doesn't have the interest of the people at its heart.
"The real issues that we need to tackle should ensure that we don't waste one rand on projects of this nature, let alone R22 million."
Duvenage says they are monitoring the developments around the project before taking action.
"We are watching the space and seeing how it unfolds. We believe the civil society pressure will pan out and force the government to understand that this is just lunacy quite frankly, this is really not necessary.
"We will see what happens before we make a decision on whether to tackle it or not."
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