Minister refutes artist's claims about the SA flag design

SPORT, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has said the analysis of the original design submissions by Eastern Cape artist Thembani Hastings Mqhayi did not contain any of the elements incorporated into the final design of the South African national flag.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

“Based on the available information, the confirmed designer whose draft concept informed the basis for the design of the South African flag during the work of the Joint Technical Working Committee, albeit refined through the subsequent committee process, is indeed the late Mr Frederick Brownell,” he said. McKenzie was responding this week to EFF MP Eugene Mthethwa, who wanted to know who actually designed the national flag after Mqhayi recently claimed that he did, not Brownell.

In April, Mqhayi’s spokesperson, Bandile Magibili, was quoted as saying Mqhayi owned the design of the national flag.

“I think the word ‘claiming’ is overused. The design of the flag of the country is indeed Mr Thembani Hastings Mqhayi’s design,” he told Newzroom Afrika.

IOL previously reported that Mqhayi filed papers in the Pretoria High Court in 2022 against the then minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, and the State Herald over the matter.