Freedom Day: Artist claims rightful credit as the original designer of SA flag
An artist has renewed his fight for acknowledgment, claiming he is the original creator of South Africa’s national flag.
As South Africa celebrated Freedom Day, artist Thembani Hastings Mqhayi once again asserted that he was the original designer of the national flag, a key emblem of the country’s democratic journey.
Freedom Day marks a historic moment, the nation’s first democratic elections in 1994 and the adoption of the new constitution, both pivotal milestones in South Africa’s path to freedom.
On the same day, South Africa’s current national flag was officially adopted, replacing the Oranje, Blanje, Blou of the oppressive apartheid government.
According to IOL, Mqhayi has now written to the 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
Mqhayi has previously 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.
He argues that the late Frederick Brownell, who served as State Herald from 1982 to 2002 and officially designed the flag, plagiarised his submissions.
Although Brownell passed away in 2019, many still celebrate him for 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 department 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.