On Freedom Day, artist Thembani Hastings Mqhayi renewed his claim that he designed South Africa’s national flag—one of the country’s most powerful symbols of democracy.
Freedom Day commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on this day in 1994, and the day on which the new constitution was introduced.
On the same day, South Africa’s current national flag was officially adopted, replacing the Oranje, Blanje, Blou of the apartheid government.
According to IOL, Mqhayi has now written to Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, requesting formal talks over the current flag’s original design.
If the Ministry refuses to engage, Mqhayi says he will take legal action by the end of May.
Not his first claim
This is not the first time Mqhayi has taken his claim to the authorities.
In 2022, he filed papers in the Pretoria High Court against then-Minister Nathi Mthethwa and the State Herald.
Mqhayi maintains that the late Frederick Brownell, who officially designed the flag and served as State Herald from 1982 to 2002, plagiarised his submissions.
Brownell, who passed away in 2019, was widely celebrated for his role in creating the flag adopted after apartheid.
Mqhayi’s spokesperson Bandile Magibili has told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that Mqhayi not is just claiming, but actually owns the design.
“I think the word of claiming is overused,” said Magibili.
“The design of the flag of the country is indeed Mr Thembani Hastings Mqhayi’s design. We did make a couple of submissions.”
“As you may be aware, we invited Minister Gayton McKenzie and his departmenr to be part of this interview, and they refused.”
Mqhayi says he submitted five original flag designs in early 1994 after a public call by Nelson Mandela for citizens to help create a flag for the new South Africa.
He asserts one of his designs was used, but says he no longer has copies because he mailed them through the East London Post Office and did not keep duplicates.
Do you know what the design and colours of the SA flag represent?
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