Johannesburg - An urgent investigation is needed into abuse of the national anthem by artists and businesses, the Western Cape ANC said on Thursday.
Provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile was responding to reports that a Cape Town man buying chicken at take-away outlet KFC was shocked when a “vulgar, profane” version of the national anthem blasted out over the music system.
“Such blatant racism is untenable,” Mjongile said.
“The ANC calls on all South Africans to distance themselves from this kind of intolerance and to unite on the side of non-sexism and non-racism.”
The Cape Times reported that Tariq Mellett was waiting in the queue at the KFC in Buitenkant street, Gardens, when he heard what sounded like the national anthem, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika.
“It sounded like parts of the national anthem, but I was surprised when the song started in Afrikaans with: Nkosi Sikelel'... Nkosi is 'n doos, Mandela is 'n f****n kaffir... and so on, at full blast,” he said.
“Two other customers and I were flabbergasted by the vulgarity, profanity and racism being belted out in a popular family restaurant.”
Mellett said they shouted at the staff to switch it off, but this was done only after some time.
KFC's provincial manager Craig Davids told the newspaper it had referred the query to franchisor Yum Restaurants.
“We are in the process of looking into the matter, I can't comment until we have checked it out,” he said. - Sapa