SINGER Steve Hofmeyr lived up to his reputation as a performer of note during the Afrikaans is Groot (AIG) concert over the weekend at the Ned Geref Kerk Moreleta Park – but away from the stage and colourful lights, the gloves are off.
People in the crowd shouted “sing Die Stem” (apartheid national anthem) as he was on the stage, but he did not, nor did he say anything controversial.
But the ANC Youth League greater Tshwane region said it had applied to hold a demonstration against Hofmeyr in the light of his public utterances, which the party claimed bordered on racism.
The youth movement has accused the popular Afrikaans singer of insisting on spreading racial venom and wants him to be removed from the list of performers at the concert series.
The dispute relates to Hofmeyr’s public spat with satirist Conrad Koch and Chester Missing, the puppet, and a statement allegedly made by the singer in which he said blacks were the architects of apartheid.
Branch chairman of the youth league Tshepo Masanabo said an application to stage the protest was submitted to the City of Tshwane at the weekend. Masanabo said details of the protest, including the date, would be announced following further consultations.
But, residents of Moreleta Park have vowed to go to court should the youth movement be granted permission to demonstrate. Masanabo claimed the move to go to court was fuelled by the DA.
The AIG kicked off last Friday night and will conclude this Saturday before moving to Cape Town for two days. Hofmeyr is sharing the stage with Juanita du Plessis, Theuns Jordaan, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Bok van Blerk, Robbie Wessels, Lianie May, Karlien van Jaarsveld, Jay, Riana Nel, Jannie Moolman, Arno Jordaan, Jak de Priester, Eden and Corlea Botha.
Under the banner of the Rubenstein Group, residents said they took note of the intention by the youth league meeting Tshwane officials to obtain permission for a protest against Hofmeyr.
The group said there wasn’t enough time for the application and thus no need to give the youth league less than the procedural seven days to apply for a protest, in accordance with municipal policies.
“Allowing the protest to go ahead without following procedure would be a dangerous set up that could see possible violence spilling over near our homes,” Rubenstein Group spokesman Melany Legard said.
The group warned that if the city unlawfully favoured the youth league and granted the right to protest, it would seek an urgent interdict in the high court to stop the action and ask for a costs order against metro.
“Our legal advice is that it is not a safe venue to have a protest, and the application must be at least seven days before the time. There is no proper reason to lift the seven days,” the group stated. Legard said the City of Tshwane indicated no application or notice had been received from the youth league.
AIG spokesperson Barnard Beukman said the organisers were focused on the concert and would deal with the matter as and when the youth league’s application had been approved.
Ward councillor for the area Lex Middelberg denied residents were influenced by the DA and said it was his duty to attend to their concerns. He said the seven-day rule applied to all protests – without exception.
Concertgoer Sonja du Pree said she was invited to the opening night and had never seen such a huge crowd. Within minutes, people just poured in, and there wasn’t a single seat left open.
Old omies and tannies with purple rinses, middle aged and young people, even a few children were in attendance and they all seemed to know what was going to happen, as there was a countdown until the show opened, Du Pree said.
“I have never seen such a spectacular stage. It was announced that there were 7 500 people and that it was fully booked for the next week.
“When Hofmeyr came on, people cheered. He sang some of his well known songs as well as a few songs with some of the other artists.
“It was clear that Steve was a big part of the show and one of the main performers.”
Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba of Tshwane Metro Police Department said procedurally, applications for protests needed to be made within seven working days, but urgent applications could be considered if made within 48 hours. - Pretoria News