Tag: anthem

SA must learn new anthem and fly AU flag

President Jacob Zuma on Sunday urged South Africans to learn the African Union anthem, and asked companies and institutions to fly the African Union flag alongside that of the national flag.

“On this 21st year of being part of the AU, we must begin a new chapter and formalise the promotion of the AU and our African identity in every aspect of life,” Zuma said while speaking at an Africa Day event at the University of Pretoria.

“Starting today, every school, church or community choir and individuals, must practice the African Union anthem so that we can sing it at all our important gatherings and celebrations.”

We urge South African institutions and companies to begin flying the African Union flag together with the South African flag.”

Africa Day is officially celebrated on May 25 to commemorate the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union (AU).

South Africa joined the OAU on May 23, 1994.

Zuma said South Africans should reclaim their African identity which was suppressed during the apartheid era.

South Africa would continue working with the AU to advance peace and stability on the continent.

“We are proud of our modest contribution to the success of the continent through involvement in peacemaking, peacekeeping as well as reconstruction and development, working within the ambit of the African Union with other sister countries,” said Zuma.

“We continue to work together as Africans to find solutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Mali, Sudan, the Central African Republic and other parts of the continent facing challenges such as Burundi in recent weeks.”

While the continent continued to show advancements on the economic front, more work needed to be done, said Zuma.

“Africa is one of the fastest growing regions in the world. We have a sound socio-economic development plan in the form of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, NEPAD. We have clear programmes to advance infrastructure development, industrialisation and advancement in agriculture, health and other social programmes,” he said.

“The challenge is to make the growth inclusive and for it to translate into an improved quality of life for the one billion Africans who inhabit our continent.”

Source: ANA

Kentucky Fried Nkosi Sikelel’, ANC wants racism probe

Johannesburg – An urgent investigation is needed into abuse of the national anthem by artists and businesses, the Western Cape ANC said on Thursday.

Provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile was responding to reports that a Cape Town man buying chicken at take-away outlet KFC was shocked when a “vulgar, profane” version of the national anthem blasted out over the music system.

“Such blatant racism is untenable,” Mjongile said.

“The ANC calls on all South Africans to distance themselves from this kind of intolerance and to unite on the side of non-sexism and non-racism.”

The Cape Times reported that Tariq Mellett was waiting in the queue at the KFC in Buitenkant street, Gardens, when he heard what sounded like the national anthem, Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika.

“It sounded like parts of the national anthem, but I was surprised when the song started in Afrikaans with: Nkosi Sikelel’… Nkosi is ‘n doos, Mandela is ‘n f****n kaffir… and so on, at full blast,” he said.

“Two other customers and I were flabbergasted by the vulgarity, profanity and racism being belted out in a popular family restaurant.”

Mellett said they shouted at the staff to switch it off, but this was done only after some time.

KFC’s provincial manager Craig Davids told the newspaper it had referred the query to franchisor Yum Restaurants.

“We are in the process of looking into the matter, I can’t comment until we have checked it out,” he said. – Sapa