/ 27 October 2009

Man in court over offensive Madiba lyrics

A man has appeared in court for allegedly insulting former president Nelson Mandela, North West police said on Tuesday.

A man has appeared in court for allegedly insulting former president Nelson Mandela during a potjiekos competition at Sun City near Rustenburg, North West police said on Tuesday.

Benjamin Burger (46), a shareholder of the security company hosting the competition at the hotel, allegedly played a remixed version of the national anthem on Saturday, Commissioner Lesetja Beetha said in a statement.

”It is alleged that during the competition he played a CD … containing remixed lyrics of the national anthem, and people who attended the event listened to the song Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, which continued to say Nelson Mandela is a kaffir.”

One of the people attending the competition reported this to the hotel manager, who informed the police.

Burger — apparently a main shareholder of the Falcon Security Company that provides security services at the Sun City hotel — was subsequently arrested and released on bail of R1 500.

He appeared in the Mogwase District Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on a charge of crimen injuria.

The matter was postponed to December 11. — Sapa