AWB's De la Rey posters axed
02/04/2007 16:26  - (SA)  

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Oudtshoorn - Organisers of the 13th Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK) here have been quick to remove posters of the rightwing Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging.

The Herald Online reported on Monday that the posters also made reference to the controversial Afrikaans song, De la Rey and apartheid South Africa's coat of arms.

Festival chief executive officer Karen Meiring said any posters not approved by festival organisers would be removed, no matter what the message was.

The posters made their appearance on Sunday, carrying the words "Ons De la Rey" above the AWB sign and "Eend Drag maak Mag" (sic) at the bottom.

The new Afrikaans hit, De la Rey was heard all over Oudtshoorn during the first festival weekend, with Bok van Blerk performing the song on several stages.

The lyrics about Boer general Koos de la Rey and his leadership during the Anglo-Boer War were heard blaring from car stereos across town.

Banned by principal

Racial tension has been running high in Oudtshoorn after an incident at Langenhoven Gymnasium when a boy allegedly assaulted another pupil in the presence of a teacher.

A Sunday newspaper linked the incident to the banning of the song, De la Rey, from the school by principal Hillie Schultz.

Afrikaans writer and Eastern Cape government official Jason Lloyd asked on Sunday for De la Rey to be banned from the festival, saying it fuelled racial division.

Van Blerk wore a black T-shirt sporting the new South African flag when he performed the song in a packed tent at the festival on Sunday.

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