Members of the EFF and MK Party deliberately sat out Die Stem – and Afrikaans segment of the national anthem – during the State of the Nation (SONA) address on Thursday, 6 February.
The political parties have previously voiced their disapproval of the song, which they claim is a “heritage of oppression and indignity.”
Over thirty years ago, the first democratic president of South Africa – the late Nelson Mandela – ruled that Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika and Die Stemboth be sung as national anthems. This later emerged as a shorter version, 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 were seen seated as the rest of the City Hall auditorium at the SONA stood for the singing of the national anthem.
The political parties – who are not part of the GNU goverment – refused to sing the Afrikaans segment of Die Stem.
Take a look…
The MK and EFF sit down as the anthem transitions to the stem. LD pic.twitter.com/vxxsZiPh84
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 6, 2025
In 1994, Nelson Mandela welcomed that both 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 together as a gesture to respect all races and cultures in South Africa’s all-inclusive new era dawning of democracy.
Three years later, the Constitution adopted a shortened version of the songs, now including other official languages like Zulu, Sesotho, and English.
‘HALLMARKS OF APARTHEID’
Last year, actor turned EFF MP Fana Mokoena voiced the party’s rejection of “Die Stem” in the national anthem during a parliamentary seating.
EFF members are known to sit down when the Afrikaans segment of the anthem is sung.
He said: “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 remove the stem were shot down by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie.
He responded: “Die Stem is part of who we were and who we’ve become. We must protect the national anthem.
He added: “There are so many of us that want to live in the past. We have moved on from there, but we no longer live 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 following protocol when singing the national anthem…
- The national anthem should be recited with appropriate respect.
- All should stand to attention with their hands placed at their sides while singing the national anthem.
- Civilians should take their hats off as a sign of respect.
DO YOU BELIEVE ALL SOUTH AFRICANS MUST RESPECT THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, INCLUDING ‘DIE STEM’?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to060 011 021 1.
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