The DA, the country’s main opposition party, has defended the image saying it wanted to highlight its argument that South Africa is in trouble.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday condemned “in the strongest terms” the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) election advertisement, which featured the burning of the national flag, labelling it as treasonous.

The DA, the country’s main opposition party, has defended the image saying it wanted to highlight its argument that South Africa is in trouble.

The DA released the contentious advertisement on Sunday, portraying a burning South African flag to symbolise the nation’s deteriorating state and warning of further decline unless the party is supported in the upcoming elections.

In the advert, as the flag is seen going up in flames, a voice-over warns that “life will only get worse” under the African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power since 1994.

The burning of the flag is then reversed as the speaker urges voters to support the DA.

“This election is about survival,” it ends as the flag is replenished and returns to its original form.

The offensive advert was launched amid the national celebration of 30 Years of Freedom and the preservation of tolerance and peace in the build-up to the May 29 national and provincial elections. Campaigning has become increasingly fractious ahead of the general election.

The advert angered some South Africans who accused the party of desecrating the flag to highlight challenges faced by citizens.

Burning the flag is not illegal, but Ramaphosa called the DA’s depiction an “abuse”, adding that it undermined the unity of the country.

“All South Africans should deplore this abuse of our national flag for party political purposes. Our flag is a symbol of identity, integrity, and unity that we fly with a pride and consciousness that transcends party political interests,” the president said.

“The burning of the national flag in a political advertisement is treasonous. Our country’s flag is a sacred symbol in our national life,” he added. “It is despicable for a political party to destroy a symbol of our unity and existence as a nation.”

Ramaphosa said in his statement that while he was committed to free speech, this has to “be exercised with respect for all people and that it does not incite social upheaval or violence”.

Sports Minister Zizi Kodwa also condemned the DA’s advert, highlighting the flag’s symbolic importance.

“This action by the Democratic Alliance offends the gains South Africa has made as a free and non-racial democracy, and the sacrifices made to achieve this freedom,” Kodwa stated.

Ramaphosa has acknowledged in his campaigning that there are problems in the country, but he has also emphasised the transformation that South Africa has made in the past 30 years.

The ANC led the struggle against white-minority rule and the legalised form of racial discrimination known as apartheid.

“South Africans are more educated, empowered, and healthier than they were under apartheid,” Ramaphosa has said, urging people not to threaten that progress.

The DA defended its advertisement, saying its intention was to alert citizens to the ongoing destruction of the country. It said it was sending a message to the citizens that South Africa was being destroyed right under their noses.