Covering the landmark Athlone towers with a giant South African flag will detract from efforts to maintain a rural atmosphere in the area which is home to Cape Town's model initiation site, says the city.
Such an operation would also put the structures at risk, and be in contravention of advertising laws, it added.
Local artist Michael Elion's proposal to cover the towers with a vinyl fabric flag has gripped the imagination of Capetonians, many of whom SMSed the Cape Argus to register their support for the idea.
But councillor Brian Watkyns, chairman of the planning and environment portfolio committee, said there were a number of reasons why the idea would not work.
The first difficulty was the structure of the towers.
"I am advised that the problem lies mainly in that they are thin shell structures very dependent on the steel reinforcing with a minimum of concrete cover.
The surrounding areas would also be an issue.
"Right next to the towers is an initiation site which is considered to be the model initiation site in the metro. This highly sensitive cultural area has the unenviable task of trying to create a rural atmosphere in an urban area."
Watkyns said any large, colourful additions to the towers would "detract greatly" from this "valued rural atmosphere"
