'Loftus should play De la Rey'
2007-02-18 14:52
Johannesburg - The citizens' rights organisation AfriForum has urged rugby spectators to ignore a ban on the Afrikaans song De la Rey at Loftus Versfeld.
Friday's ban came amid complaints when the song was played during the Blue Bulls' match against Australia's Western Force, according to the Rapport newspaper.
Unless Bok van Blerk's De la Rey was put back on the official playlist of the stadium, it would be sung unofficially by spectators, AfriForum's Kallie Kriel said in a statement on Sunday.
The Blue Bulls company, which manages Loftus Versfeld, told Rapport it did not want to create an "uncomfortable situation" for its non-white spectators.
Its acting head Barend van Graan said 43% of spectators were white.
He would not disclose who complained or give details of the complaint.
Van Blerk, whose real name is Louis Pepler, told Rapport he was sorry to hear about the ban as he did not believe the song was a sensitive issue.
However, he respected the decision 100%
The song honours Boer hero General Koos de la Rey.
On Thursday, Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan said Van Blerk had every right to sing the song and that he had indicated that it was not a call to arms for Afrikaners.
- SAPA