WATCH: EFF boycott Die Stem during Sona

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) seem to have boycotted the Afrikaans section of the South African national anthem, Die Stem, during the 2019 state of the nation address (Sona) on Thursday evening.

In a video clip the red berets’ leader, Julius Malema, reshared on Twitter, the party’s members of parliament (MPs) are seen seated as other MPs sing Die Stem ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa delivering his second Sona on Thursday evening.

The EFF sits during the Afrikaans part of the national anthem #SONA2019 #VocNews pic.twitter.com/rM3rwNnDK5

— Zaah (@zaahzaahmey) February 7, 2019

During the EFF election manifesto launch at the Gaint Stadium in Soshanguve last weekend, the party’s chairperson, Dali Mpofu, led the singing of the national anthem, leaving out Die Stem as well as the English section, concluding instead with “Mayibuye iAfrica”.

“Please can we all rise and sing Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika without Die Stem van Suid Afrika,” Mpofu said.

READ MORE: WATCH: Dali Mpofu ‘sings’ national anthem without Die Stem

Social media users reacted differently to the red berets boycott of the Die Stem during the Sona, with some declaring their support for the EFF’s snub of that part of the national anthem while others viewed the move as being “disrespectful”.

wth thm 100%

— Kelly Marumo (@KellySuperGirl) February 7, 2019

https://twitter.com/odgewalker/status/1093800330683469825

A truly liberated mind wl do that.

— Boitumelo Moruri (@BoitumeloMoruri) February 8, 2019

https://twitter.com/ConcernSAfrica/status/1093792649167937537

Disrespectful.

— Jaun Dewitt (@Jaun_dewitt) February 8, 2019

Filled with hatred, they are not free.

— Paul A. Harris (@1Paulus) February 8, 2019

I get protests against some rich whites(english or Afrikaans),but as a middel class afrikaans mother, I feel unfairly unwelcome in SA.

— TanyaS (@TanyaSrauss000) February 8, 2019

(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu)

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