Durban - The premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Senzo Mchunu, has sparked debate by calling for silence to be observed after the national anthem has been sung.
Some want the matter given serious consideration, and feel there should be a policy on how it is conducted.
Others differ, saying people should be free to celebrate the anthem and occasion as they wish.
Mchunu was reported this week to have said he believed that a moment of silence should be observed at the end of the anthem.
He was speaking in Pietermaritzburg, where Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was giving a lecture on the Freedom Charter.
“I was listening to the loud cheers after we sang the national anthem. Some of us wish a moment of silence could be observed after the national anthem, because it needs to be respected.
“We also need to think about what is the real meaning of the national anthem, and if we should render a moment of silence.
“As we go to the (ANC) national general council, we will be discussing what we should do after the national anthem (is sung),” News24 reported Mchunu as saying.
Themba Mabaso, the Department of Arts and Culture’s bureau of heraldry head, said Mchunu’s views were driving the department’s campaign to teach the public about the importance of the anthem and how it should be observed.
Mabaso said that, despite efforts to teach respect for the song, he had repeatedly seen people disrespecting it.
“Especially at big gatherings, you will often find people chewing, men wearing hats, walking up and down, and it is very irritating,” he said.
Mabaso said that on some occasions people started whistling and cheering even before the song was finished.
“What he (Mchunu) is saying is that after finishing singing the anthem, people must give themselves a little bit of time to show respect.
“This is like listening to a song on the radio where a DJ starts talking even before the song is complete. You feel a little bit violated when you wanted to listen to the end of the song,” he said.
ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said a discussion on how the song should be observed was necessary.
“This song is a national prayer where we thank God for uniting us despite our different backgrounds.
“In most cases, you will find people not paying attention to it. We should start at school level to educate people about the song,” he said.
Dr Mathole Motshekga of the Kara Heritage Institute said there should be a policy on how the anthem was observed.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane said it should be up to people themselves to decide how they wanted to observe the anthem, depending on the occasion.
“Who is he to tell people how to respect the anthem? We sing it when we are delighted at sporting events, and we can cheer afterwards. When we are at a funeral, we can treat it differently. It should depend on the mood we are in,” he said.
The Mercury