‘Die Stem’ is part of who we were and who we’ve become – McKenzie

SA Rugby

Cape Town — Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has no intention to remove the Afrikaans verse – Die Stem –  from the national anthem, despite calls from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

McKenzie has been a divisive figure since he was appointed a Minister in the Government of National Unity and has faced some criticism for his decisions to cancel all trips for superfans, as well as publicising the list of artists who received grants during Covid.

His comments over the national anthem came after the EFF MP, Fana Mokoena, said it was not logical for the country to replace the old flag, but keep parts of the anthem, EWN reported.

“Die Stem needs to go. This is not to say we should get rid of Afrikaans, we can find a replacement for Afrikaans, but Die Stem needs to go. It’s offensive. It needs to go,” Mokoena said.

But McKenize said Die Stem will remain part of the anthem, and serve as a symbol of how far we’ve come as a country.

“Die Stem is part of who we were and who we’ve become. You cannot pinpoint some issues. 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.

“I sing ‘Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika’, ‘God bless Africa’, ‘ Setjhaba sa heso’ as hard as I sing ‘Uit die blou van onse hemel’.”

Mokoena then told McKenzie that the old flag and Die Stem were the symbols of the Apartheid regime and were used to oppress people of colour, and he proclaimed that the two go together, but McKenzie rebuffed this.

“The two go together in your world, not in the real world because in the real world, the flag no longer exists. Die Stem is part of the national anthem. I will accept it,” he said.

“There are so many of you who want us to live in the past. We have moved on. We will not be ashamed to say we support Die Stem being part of the national anthem.”

According to IOL, McKenzie said reconciliation comes with sacrifices and said, whether the EFF likes it or not, white people are part of South Africa and have a lot to offer. He maintained that he would not be part of those wanting to take South Africa back 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 but he said others would sing louder.

“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.

Picture: X/@SportArtsCultur

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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