EFF, MK Party SIT DOWN throughout ‘Die Stem’ [video]

Members of the EFF and MK Party intentionally sat out Die Stem – and Afrikaans phase of the nationwide anthem – in the course of the State of the Nation (SONA) handle on Thursday, 6 February.

The political events have beforehand voiced their disapproval of the track, which they declare is a “heritage of oppression and indignity.”

Over thirty years in the past, the primary democratic president of South Africa – the late Nelson Mandela – dominated that Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika and Die Stem each be sung as nationwide anthems. This later emerged as a shorter model, which we sing today.

EFF AND MK PARTY SIT OUT ‘DIE STEM’ DURING NATIONAL ANTHEM

In a clip that has gone viral, EFF and MK Party members have been seen seated as the remainder of the City Hall auditorium on the SONA stood for the singing of the nationwide anthem.

The political events – who are usually not a part of the GNU goverment – refused to sing the Afrikaans phase of Die Stem.

Take a glance…

The MK and EFF sit down because the anthem transitions to the stem. LD pic.twitter.com/vxxsZiPh84

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 6, 2025

In 1994, Nelson Mandela welcomed that each Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika – a Christian hymn first penned by Enoch Sontonga in 1987 – and Die Stem, a poem written by CJ Langenhoven in 1918, be sung collectively as a gesture to respect all races and cultures in South Africa’s all-inclusive new period dawning of democracy.

Three years later, the Constitution adopted a shortened model of the songs, now together with different official languages like Zulu, Sesotho, and English.

‘HALLMARKS OF APARTHEID’

Last 12 months, actor turned EFF MP Fana Mokoena voiced the social gathering’s rejection of “Die Stem” within the nationwide anthem throughout a parliamentary seating.

EFF members are recognized to sit down down when the Afrikaans phase of the anthem is sung.

He stated: “We have a national anthem that still bears the hallmarks of Apartheid. It’s peculiar that we get rid of the Apartheid flag and not the anthem. Die Stem needs to go; it’s offensive.”

In the MK Party manifesto, it vowed to “remove all remnants of colonialism and Apartheid from cultural and political life.”

EFF’s calls to take away the stem have been shot down by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie.

He responded: “Die Stem is a part of who we have been and who we’ve turn out to be. We should shield the nationwide anthem.

He added: “There are so many people that wish to dwell prior to now. We have moved on from there, however we not dwell there. We will sing Die Stem.

“I can’t be part of people and nurse their egos that want to take us back to 1973. We have moved on. There’s a new South Africa, and they can sit down. We will sing louder for their part.”

ETIQUETTE WHEN SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

According to a government directive, South Africans are required to obey the next protocol when singing the nationwide anthem…

• The nationwide anthem must be recited with applicable respect.
• All ought to stand to consideration with their arms positioned at their sides whereas singing the nationwide anthem.
• Civilians ought to take their hats off as an indication of respect.

DO YOU BELIEVE ALL SOUTH AFRICANS MUST RESPECT THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, INCLUDING ‘DIE STEM’?

Let us know by leaving a remark under, or ship a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.

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