ANCYL calls off Hofmeyr protest

The cover of Steve Hofmeyr's 'Toeka 3' album.

The cover of Steve Hofmeyr's 'Toeka 3' album.

Published Nov 21, 2014

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FOLLOWING days of mudslinging, weapons have been laid down in the fight against Steve Hofmeyr performing at the Afrikaans is Groot music concert, which ends this weekend at the Ned Geref Kerk in Moreleta Park.

The ANC Youth League Greater Tshwane region has postponed its planned action after the city turned down its application to stage a protest at the venue.

This was because the application was not submitted within the prescribed seven working days.

The youth league had called on Afrikaners to reject and isolate the popular musician, saying he insisted on spreading racial venom.

Hofmeyr has been in the spotlight following tweets. In October, a post on Twitter read: “Sorry to offend but in my books blacks were the architects of apartheid.” This caused a stir, with the popular singer being accused of being racist.

The youth league’s branch spokesperson Justin de Swardt said it would have been counter-productive to nation-building if there was a physical confrontation between ANC members and “racists” if the protest action was held unlawfully.

De Swardt said in consultations with the concert’s major stakeholders, the league had made clear its absolute disgust with statements attributed to Hofmeyr.

The league was reasonably satisfied that the stakeholders did not condone his actions, he said. “It is extremely abnormal for a public figure to be making statements such as those in the democratic era,” he said. “To say blacks were the architects of apartheid is not only ignorant but highly insensitive.”

 

Hofmeyr is performing at the concert series which ends this weekend before moving to Cape Town.

After the youth league signalled its intention to protest, the Rubenstein Group – residents of nearby Rubenstein Avenue – indicated it would challenge the matter in court should the application be approved. But now group co-ordinator Melany Legard said they were relieved it was over. She said they had no issue with the youth taking on Hofmeyr, but a potentially dangerous march near their homes while 7 000 people piled into a concert venue would have been a formula for disaster.

Afrikaans is Groot spokesman Barnard Beukman welcomed the situation where patrons could attend the gigs in a relaxed atmosphere.  -   Pretoria News

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