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Blue Bulls free De la Rey
18/02/2007 23:11 - (SA)
Johanna van Eeden, Beeld
Pretoria - De la Rey is back in full throat at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
After reports in Rapport that Bok van Blerk's popular tune was to be removed from the playlist at Loftus, Blue Bulls Company (BBC) moved quickly to douse the flames.
It followed the quote attributed to Barend van Graan, acting chief of the BBC that "we don't want to create an uneasy situation for our non-white spectators".
Apparently spectators had complained about the song after the rugby match between the Blue Bulls team and the Western Force of Australia on Friday night.
'Diverse group of supporters'
Van Graan issued a statement on Sunday, saying that
De la Rey will be heard on Saturday when the Bulls take on the Waikato Chiefs, and (we) invite all supporters to come and listen to it."
But, Van Graan's statement also continues: "In recent times, various connotations have been given to some words in the song.
"Out of respect for our diverse group of supporters, we have decided not to emphasise the tune as a whole."
Van Graan told Morris Gilbert of Beeld that he had nothing further to add.
He had said initially that he was incorrectly quoted, but in his statement he merely referred to "factual errors in reference to rugby spectator figures".
Kallie Kriel, executive chief of civil-rights initiative AfriForum, said he couldn't quite understand what Van Graan was trying to say in the statement.
"If they're not going to use the tune in its entirety, surely it boils down to censorship?"
Sean Else, co-writer of the song, said he wondered if BBC's statement meant that they intended to play only part of it.
"It's incredibly strange. Dr Pallo Jordan (minister of arts and culture) and the government see nothing wrong with the song, but the Blue Bulls do.
"The song has never been in a political space.
"The media half tried to shove it into such a space and now Loftus seems to be taking it a step further.
"There is no political connotation. It's ridiculous."
Kriel said that, according to his information, there was a decision to ban De la Rey at Loftus, and the statement represented an about-face.
Kriel called on spectators at Loftus to sing the song spontaneously.
AfriForum planned to get in students who would act as cheerleaders, and get De la Rey going on the stands.
In his view, many people identified with the song because it referred to a part of the Afrikaner's history, of which people could be proud.
"There's no great danger of it becoming political, but by banning it you create a greater danger of politicising it." Piet Uys, chairperson of the Blue Bulls former players association, expressed his surprise at the news item in Rapport.
"I also serve on the executive committee of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and no decision has been taken on this.
"The former players are breathing down my neck and want to know what's going on. I have to admit that I don't know."
Uys said BBRU owned half of BBC and he found it strange that van Graan had been quoted on such a matter.
"The president of the union, Boet Fick, will make such statements."
'Every match is a new soapie'
Referring to the controversy about the song, Uys said: "Rugby no longer has the old type of spectator who went there in peace and quiet.
"It's a happening these days. Every match is a new soapie, a new episode.
"The spectators express and enjoy themselves, and it's mostly young people. Why not give the young people who support you, what they want?"
- Beeld
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South Africa
