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Law firm places anti-crime ad
07/02/2007 12:44 - (SA)
Johannesburg - A firm of commercial lawyers on Wednesday did what First National Bank did not do, and published an advertisement in Beeld newspaper voicing its grievances about crime.
"We might not have an advertising budget like that of FNB (First National Bank), but we have De la Rey courage," read the advert, published in Beeld newspaper, by Pretoria-based Van Huyssteens attorneys.
This was in reference to FNB's recent decision to suspend a R20m anti-crime advertising campaign, reportedly due to pressure from some quarters of government and business.
It also made reference to the Afrikaans song De la Rey by Bok van Blerk, about General Koos de la Rey.
The firm dissociated itself from any Afrikaner right-wing or political messages that might have been read into the song since its release.
Song is 'a call to arms'
Said partner in the firm Johann van Huyssteen: "De la Rey courage is something that he had when he took up the struggle against the English colonialists in a peaceful way, not by way of arms... The new struggle is against crime."
He pointed out that right wing connotations arose after the firm had decided to take out the advert.
The department of arts and culture warned on Tuesday that De la Rey was in danger of being "hijacked" by right wingers who wanted to mislead Afrikaans speakers into believing that the song was a "call to arms".
Consultant for the firm Reggie Manyakara said the advert was "generally done in the good spirit of things. [The song] has taken a political twist since then and that happened subsequent to our decision [to publish the advert]."
The advert was addressed to President Thabo Mbeki, the cabinet and leaders on all government levels.
"Like most law-abiding citizens of South Africa we are deeply concerned about the welfare of our country and levels of crime. Seemingly it only bothers the public and not South Africa's leaders," it continued.
It demanded of Mbeki and the country's leaders to change their attitude towards crime, give assurances that action would be taken and that a plan of action would be published.
Manyakara said the advert was intended to stimulate discussion among smaller businesses.
"Why must we wait for one big company [FNB]?
"We felt we needed to take a stand that they didn't want to or couldn't. There's no reason why we shouldn't want to talk about it."
Another advert would be published in English in the Pretoria News on Thursday and the company would assess any reactions it received.
The song De la Rey refers to the experience of white Afrikaners of the then Orange Free State and Transvaal 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 a historical curiosity," the department said.
The department noted that Van Blerk has denied that his song had any contemporary relevance.
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