Anthem mess was treason, says MP

By Caiphus Kgosana
Political Bureau

An ANC MP has suggested that those who butcher South Africa's national anthem be charged with treason.

And the National Assembly's sports committee also wants to meet the Department of International Relations and Co-operation to voice its disapproval over the manner in which the South African embassy in France handled the matter when the Springboks played in Toulouse on Friday.

Committee chairman Butana Komphela said they wanted to meet with Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and departmental top brass to ensure that all South African embassies have the correct version of the national anthem, the correct flag and will be able to source credible singers for national events taking place outside the country.

This follows the "butchering" of the national anthem by Rasta singer Ras Dumisani when the Springboks played France.

Committee member Litho Suka (ANC) said it was a tragedy that Dumisani had been allowed to sing the anthem in the first place.

"In other countries, when a person flouts the national anthem, it's treason. That guy was not fit; he's fit to go to trial," he said.

Suka said the embassy official who was responsible for acquiring the services of Dumisani should also face the music.

"This thing of just apologising is not acceptable," he said, referring to Monday's statement in which the South African embassy in France distanced itself from being responsible for selecting or imposing Dumisani on organisers to sing at the event.

The embassy said it had provided the French Rugby Federation with Dumisani's agent's name as it was the only name it had of a South African singer living in France.

ANC MP Thandi Sunduza said it should be a requirement by law for all South African missions and embassies abroad to have the right anthem and flag.

Komphela said SA Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins had assured him that the organisation was not at fault as the game had been staged by their French counterparts.

Meanwhile, Hoskins has accepted an apology from his French counterpart over the poorly sung anthem.

In a statement on Tuesday, Hoskins said Pierre Camou of the French Rugby Federation offered unreserved apologies.

Hoskins said he accepted that French rugby officials did not deliberately try to "sabotage the anthem and, as much as the performance still rankles, we regard the matter as now closed".

• This article was originally published on page 1 of The Cape Times on November 18, 2009