'Fire this man. Please' - Celebs react to Nathi Mthethwa's R22m flag project

South Africans are weighing in on the news that Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa plans to spend R22-million on a flag project. 

The department briefed parliament on a feasibility study for the proposed project on Tuesday.  Mthethwa told the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture that the Monumental Flag project will be a symbol of national pride. 

“One of the department’s mandate is to transform the heritage landscape through building museums, building monuments and change the colonial and apartheid names.... This is a marker of a break from our colonial and apartheid past. It epitomises democratic values of non-tribalism, non-racism and other values that our forebears aspired to," he said. 

If given the green light, the flag would be erected at the Freedom Park Heritage Site in Pretoria. The flagpole will be 120m high while the actual flag will be 10m by 15m.  The flag will also light up at night.  

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The plan has been met with heavy criticism. Many social media users felt the money could be put to better use. Several high-profile stars, including Bonang Matheba, shared their opinion. 

"Fire this man. Please," she tweeted. Queen B added in another post: 'You’re useless and we all hate you."

South Africa's media darling also tagged the minister in one of her posts.

"You have no clue what you’re doing. Go away! @NathiMthethwaSA," the 34-year-old tweeted. 

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Media personality Penny Lebyane found herself on Twitter's trending list after sharing a different opinion on the matter.

"I have not studied the feasibility document on the Flag to cost 22 Million so I’m limited there but it doesn’t sound like a lot of money for something that will out live me. Hating the minister can’t be the reason why creatives themselves don’t commit to fixing their problems," she tweeted.

Penny added in a separate tweet: "Obviously @NathiMthethwaSA is not liked by a whole industry that hates itself so nothing new there for me. But l have a question. How did they build your favorites The Eiffel Tower in Parys, Statue Of Liberty in New York, Christ The Redemeer in Rio De Janeiro? Why do u like them?"

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Robert Marawa clapped back at Penny's tweet about the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. 

"They were NOT flags!! They were NOT vanity projects in a struggling economy of mass youth unemployment caused by a thieving government!!" 

DJ Ms Party also disagreed with Penny. 

"Penny, this is ridiculous expenditure. The Eiffel Tower was built to celebrate 100 years since the French revolution. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France for the US’s liberty. These were to celebrate progress and the betterment of peoples lives. What are we celebrating?" the DJ asked. 

Here's a look at what other social media users had to say. 

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Main image credit: Instagram/@bonang_m

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