The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is pushing for the removal of elements of the apartheid-era anthem ‘Die Stem’ from the current national anthem, while Julius Malema has defended his party’s decision.
Malema expressed that it was not about the language, or an attempt to exclude Afrikaans, but rather, the history of it, adding that people can band together to compose a “nice, new Afrikaans melody” to replace ‘Die Stem’.
“We’re not saying remove Afrikaans, we’re saying remove ‘Die Stem’. We can get people to compose an Afrikaans version, a nice, new Afrikaans melody,” he explained.
He then sang a section in Afrikaans, as an example of how the language can still be included: “Baie mooi Suid-Afrika, baie mooi”. (Very good South Africa, very good.)
“Let’s sing in Afrikaans but let’s not sing ‘Die Stem’,” Malema said, adding that this was sung during the “torture of our people”.
Malema went on to call out the African National Congress (ANC) for its lack of “commitment” to removing ‘Die Stem’.
The EFF leader was speaking at a media briefing where he was providing an update on the party’s coalition talks.
Watch it here:
[MUST WATCH ?]: CIC @Julius_S_Malema says the ANC can’t even commit to removing Die Stem. We have no problem with singing Afrikaans but we have a problem singing Die Stem, a song that was sang during the torture of our people. #EFFPresser pic.twitter.com/mDpF34QiB1
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) November 16, 2021
Also read:
Picture: Twitter / @EFFSouthAfrica