COLUMN: Only right-wingers yearning for a lily-white utopia would praise DA election ad

I'M captivated by creative masterpieces that resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impression and a shiver of excitement!

The 2024 election ads present a unique canvas for painting vivid artistic impressions of the state of our nation and how political parties propose to rescue us from impending doom.

The South African economy is barely limping along, with a growth of a mere 0.1% in the last quarter of 2023, culminating in an annual increase that barely scratches 0.6%.

Joburg, the economic heartland, is besieged by water and electricity crises, while its infrastructure crumbles, literally, beneath our feet.

ALSO READ | The circus is back in town and it stinks!

My attention was captured last night by an election advert while I was idly scrolling through my phone in the passenger seat on the way home from the mall. This ad made me sit up, listen and marvel at the artistry on display.

It reminded me of Skrillex's Ragga Bomb music video filmed in the urban landscapes of Hillbrow, Alex and the Joburg CBD depicting an apocalyptic turf war complete with waste pickers rolling down the streets with their trolleys. The EFF's election ad, thankfully, steers clear of the usual political mudslinging.

It stands in stark contrast to the efforts of some, like the Smurfs' clumsy attempts to woo right-wing voters who I'm certain dream of a white utopia.

Where to start? The DA's election ad takes aim at the ANC and the EFF and in particular, seems to disregard the very foundations of our country's democracy. I was a proud four-year-old flying our flag when South Africa celebrated its liberation from apartheid. Perched on my dad's shoulders at Cape Town's Grand Parade, we welcomed democracy.

Though I can't recall my feelings from that day, the photos always reignite a sense of pride - pride in living in a country that no longer discriminates against me based on my skin colour. To desecrate the South African flag is, in my eyes, a sacrilege. \

In the words of Professor Thuli Madonsela: "Our flag symbolises our hopes and triumph over the wicked apartheid state. We protect its versions wherever we are."

ALSO READ | COLUMN: ‘Black faces in high places aren't going to save us!’

The DA's advertisement also reveals failure to acknowledge their role in the current state of affairs in the country's economic hub. The party once held sway in Joburg and the city's present condition didn't materialise overnight.

Their subsequent election video seems to mimic the EFF's campaign ad, but I'll let you judge that for yourself after viewing it.

The DA proclaims itself as South Africa's beacon of hope, but what future does that promise under a party that seems to disregard the very pillars our nation stands upon? Their campaign lacks both depth and vision, but then, what more can we expect from a party led by someone without a university degree?

Disclaimer: SNL24 encourages freedom of speech and expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on SNL24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of SNL24.