The Afrikaans song, De la Rey, by Bok van Blerk is in danger of being ”hijacked” by right wingers who want to mislead Afrikaans speakers into believing the song is a struggle song that sends out a ”call to arms”, the Department of Arts and Culture warned on Tuesday.
In the statement, the department said the composers had the right to freedom of speech and said it seemed to be historical rather than a call to arms.
The song refers to the white Afrikaans-speaking communities of the then-Oranje Vrystaat and Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek who were at war with the British Empire.
”Unless the composer, performer and his audiences regard themselves as in a state of war with the rest of the population of South Africa, the song is merely an historical curiosity,” the department said.
The department said it was significant to note that Van Blerk himself has denied that his song has any contemporary relevance.
”It would be a terrible shame if a handful of misguided individuals hope to use an innocent song as a rallying point for treason,” the department said.
It added that the law on treason is clear.
”As the accused in the current Boeremag trial are discovering, those who incite treason, whatever methods they employ, might well find themselves in difficulties with the law,” it said.
The department also wished Van Blerk good luck with his song.
”Who knows, if it’s really good, it might even become an international hit, like Solomon Linda’s Mbube,” the department said. — Sapa