Hoist the flag, sing the anthem

Sport, arts and culture

As the country enters its second decade of democracy, South Africans have been urged to hoist the national flag, sing the national anthem and show love for the country.

The Gauteng Provincial Government in partnership with the Provincial Legislature launched “My South Africa: Thand’ Umzansi Campaign”, an initiative aimed at instilling civic pride and patriotism as well as promoting active citizenship amongst South Africans.

The campaign aims to contribute to nation-building and social cohesion - two priorities of government.

Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane says as South Africa approaches the twentieth anniversary of democracy, government wants to honour all those who brought the democracy to fruition.

“Importantly, this campaign draws on the strength of our democracy and uses three very strong symbols that are an embodiment of our of democracy: our flag, the Constitution and the national anthem; all that are used to unite South Africans to instil patriotism, understand the Constitution and promote identity and active citizenship.

“Through the campaign, citizens, including schools, are encouraged to hoist the South African flag, sing the national anthem and read the pre-amble of the Constitution on the first Monday of each month,” says Premier Mokonyane.

“Constitution Hill will be working with the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation to put flagpoles and flags in 50 identified schools in the province within the first phase of the project,” says Premier Mokonyane.

In addition, the Constitution Hill will work with the Gauteng Department of Education to train the prefects to understand how to hoist the flag, read the pre-amble and sing the national anthem.

These prefects will then become ambassadors of the Constitution Mondays Campaign in their schools.

In addition, the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation is also assisting with ensuring that all provincial departments and agencies roll out the campaign and join in by gathering on the first Monday of every month to hoist the flag, read the pre-amble to the Constitution and sing the national anthem before they begin work.

Speaking on how to safeguard the Constitution, Judge of the Constitutional Court, Justice Johan Froneman, says each and every South African has a responsibility to uphold the values of the Constitution.

“Safeguarding the Constitution does not depend on who is in power but the responsibility is with each and every one of us.”