Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie on Tuesday defended the inclusion of Die Stem in the national anthem against calls by the EFF for its removal or its replacement.
McKenzie said Die Stem was part of who South Africans were and who they have become.
“We must protect the national anthem. We have one of the most beautiful national anthems.
“Die Stem’s inclusion is such an expression of how far we have come as a nation,” he said.
McKenzie said he sang the Afrikaans part of the national anthem just as loud as he did with the other vernacular sections.
“We will not be ashamed to say we support Die Stem being part of the national anthem. We have moved on. We are in a new South Africa. You can go to the past. We don’t live there any more,” he said.
Speaking to journalists after the budget vote debate, McKenzie said reconciliation came with pain and sacrifices.
“White people are part of South Africa whether the EFF likes it or not. Whites have a lot to contribute; white people are doing a lot in this country for black kids,” he said.
“I am not going to be one of those who want to be politically correct,” he said.
McKenzie maintained that he would not be part of those who wanted to take South Africa to the apartheid era.
“I can’t be part of people and nurse the egos that want to take us back to 1993. We have moved on, there is a new South Africa,” he said.
The EFF normally sits down when “Die Stem” is sung.
“They can sit down and we will sing louder for their part. We will sing when they sit down and we will bring our own bass because South Africa is for all who live in it,” he said.
His deputy, Peace Mabe, said there were no blank pages in history.
“As politicians we need to be champions of patriotism,” Mabe said.
She said it was wrong to be selective in singing parts of the national anthem.
“We should be singing all the languages as the Constitution prescribes for all of us,” Mabe said.
Responding to a question about the creative arts sector, McKenzie said the industry was not being supported to its full potential due to its divisions.
A lekgotla will be held next month with the industry to come up with one vision and voice for the artists.
The industry will be invited to make suggestions on the agenda points and how the strategic session should be structured.
“No one will get money from this department coming with a ‘me syndrome’. For too long artists have died as paupers. I don’t want to be a minister of Sports, Arts and Culture that pays for your funeral. I want to be the minister who empowers your life,” McKenzie said.
He warned artists on how to approach the lekgotla.
“They must not come with a selfish agenda. They must come there to help us seek solutions so that we can fully fund and equip,” he said.
McKenzie also noted he was confident that the Government of National Unity (GNU) would last until the next five years.
“I think we will go full term and I am speaking from what I have observed,” he said.
McKenzie the GNU was the best thing that could have happened to South Africa and that it would deliver.
“I am going to play my biggest role to make sure that I am one of the glue of the GNU. It is going to last,” he said.
Cape Times