Sport, Arts & Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s plan to spend R22m on a 100m-high ‘monumental’ flag is under review, according to several media reports. However, a parliamentary committee claims it has in fact been ditched.

The chair of Parliament’s Sports, Arts & Culture Committee Beauty Dlulane, said it was important that government is able to listen to the people and act accordingly, given the current economic climate of a stagnant economy and rising unemployment.

Dlulane said Sport, Arts & Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa had announced the withdrawal of his controversial plan. She said Mthethwa’s decision had been noted by the committee.

However, a TimesLIVE report says the Ministry yesterday announced that Mthethwa had directed his department to review the process related to the flag in its totality after widespread criticism.

‘Over the past few days the Minister ... has followed and taken note of public discourse that has unfolded in respect of the envisaged monumental flag ... In upholding the inalienable rights of citizens to be heard, the Minister ... has directed his department to review the process related to the monumental flag in its totality,’ the Ministry said in a statement.

Full TimesLIVE report

Mthethwa statement

The Presidency has acknowledged that exorbitant expenditure on a national flag project could leave a bitter taste for many when considered against the backdrop of poverty, reports TimesLIVE.

Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele yesterday said the project has had 'unintended consequences'.

Gungubele said Cabinet had approved the project in principle, but it never dealt with its costs as it does not consider finances when dealing with policies.

But the flag's message was critical in the sense that it would sustain the memory of the history of the country, and promote tourism and a number of other spin-offs, he added.

Full TimesLIVE report