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.
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”.
(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu)
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