Rasta singer accused of treason
2009-11-18 09:01
Cape Town - Furious members of Parliament have accused the reggae singer who butchered the national anthem on Friday night, of treason.
Ras Dumisani, who sang the anthem before the rugby match between the French and the Springboks in Toulouse, France, would have been embarrassed had he appeared before the parliamentary portfolio committee for sport on Tuesday.
"It is treason! I don't know how he could get onto the stage if he couldn’t sing the anthem. He is ready for retirement," stated committee member and ANC MP, Litho Suka.
He said an apology alone was not good enough, and that the South African official who had recommended Dumisani to the French, should also be held accountable.
'Pathetic version'
Butana Komphela, ANC MP and committee chairperson, also wanted to know why nobody had checked beforehand whether "that rasta man" could sing.
"Our anthem is our pride, but that was a pathetic version."
Komphela phoned Oregan Hoskins, president of the South African Rugby Union, immediately after the test to convey his displeasure.
Committee members want to talk to the Department of International Relations and Co-operation to prevent a repeat of the incident, in which South Africa's flag was also flown upside down.
One possibility was to supply a uniform recording of the national anthem to South African embassies, which could be played at sporting events.