POLOKWANE – Malesela Mehlape, a 49-year-old resident of Polokwane, has been recognised as a patriot by the National Department of Sport in May for his dedication to upholding the standards of South Africa’s national symbols.
His commitment to the cause began in June 2023, when he visited a medical facility in Polokwane and noticed that the national flag was hoisted upside down.
After observing that this mistake remained uncorrected for several days, he felt compelled to take action. Mehlape first became aware of the improper handling of the national flag when he passed by a local court and saw that, although correctly hoisted, the flag was torn.
He decided to address the issue by writing to the officials responsible for maintaining these facilities. His efforts resulted in the court receiving a new flag from the national department, however, it took persistent communication with various government units, culminating in a letter to the Office of the Presidency, to ensure accountability for the proper display of the flag.
“When the national department officials brought the flag for the court, they also brought me one as a gift,” Mehlape told Polokwane Observer.
“They have also given me smaller flags to share with fellow patriots and booklets called the Passport of Patriotism. I dedicate this activity wholeheartedly to my people, reminding them that symbols like these represent who we are and set us apart from the rest of the world. It is our responsibility to educate and not judge those who may devalue these symbols, teaching them about their significance in our rich history and diversity.”
According to the Passport of Patriotism, specific government facilities are responsible for correctly hoisting and lowering the national flag at designated times each day.
Among other stipulations, the booklet also states that the flag should not:
• Touch the floor or ground
• Be used as a tablecloth or be draped in front of a platform
• Be used to cover a statue, plaque cornerstone, etc at an unveiling or similar ceremonies
• Be used to start or finish any competition, race or similar event.
The booklet also states that when the flag is hoisted, the red band must be the uppermost and the black triangle must be on the side of the pole.
When displayed vertically against a wall, the red band should be to the left of the spectator with the house or the cord seam uppermost.
National departmental spokesperson Zimasa Velaphi said they planned to also incorporate the hoisting of flags in schools, but for now, they used the subject life orientation to teach learners about the national symbols.
