Polokwane Municipality regrets flag error at opening of Legislature
The national flag, hoisted alongside the Polokwane Municipality flag, was displayed upside down at the opening of Limpopo Legislature last Friday before being fixed.
POLOKWANE – A concerned citizen has called attention to the improper display of the South African national flag during the opening of the seventh Limpopo Legislature on Friday. The incident occurred at the Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane, where Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba delivered her maiden speech before an audience of over 800 guests, including leaders from various sectors.
Malesela Mehlape, a resident who was among the crowd gathered outside the venue to show support, noticed that the national flag, hoisted alongside the Polokwane Municipality flag, was displayed upside down. Mehlape promptly informed a municipal staff member before the official proceedings began.
Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala acknowledged the error, stating that it was brought to their attention shortly after the event concluded and was corrected within 20 minutes.
Selala expressed regret over the incident, noting that the responsibility for hoisting the flag usually lies with the security forces, who were unavailable for this particular event, leading to the task being handled by an alternate team.
“We take such matters very seriously, as the national flag is a significant symbol of our nation’s pride and heritage,” Selala told the Polokwane Observer.
Mehlape, however, voiced broader concerns about a recurring pattern of improper flag displays by provincial and local government entities, as well as within the business community. He noted that when he approached responsible officials in the past, they often seemed unaware of the errors or indifferent to the significance of the flag’s proper display.
Recently honoured by the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture with a national flag for his efforts to educate others about the importance of such symbols, Mehlape urged citizens to remain vigilant and for government officials to improve their handling of national symbols.
Selala pledged that the municipality would take steps to prevent similar mistakes in the future and praised efforts to uphold the dignity of national symbols.
