NUM calls on Afriforum to abandon its case

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) notes with disappointment and disquite the ongoing case brought by Afriforum against the ANC Youth League President Julius Malema over the singing of the struggle song dubhul ibhunu. The NUM believes it will be totally incorrect to have such heritage songs banned under the guise that they promote hate speech.

South Africans fought very hard for the freedoms we enjoy today including the freedom of speech.  When leaders of the progressive movement were recently caricatured holding so-called lady justice in a distasteful and harmful manner, many South Africans including Afriforum kept quite and argued in the media that South Africans should appreciate satire and be able to laugh at themselves.

Mineworkers have always sung these songs and continue to sing these songs today and there have never been any killings of people. It is therefore not correct to argue that the singing of such songs promotes violence.

When Chris Hani was assassinated, the masses of our members sang the song but there has never been any retaliation towards the race of those who killed him.

We appeal to Afriforum to desist from pre-occupying our social conscience with non-issues and focus specifically on building the nation. After sixteen years of democracy and reconciliation, South Africa is a strong united nation with mature citizens and as such there can be no violence that is perpertuated by a young man singing a song.

Statement issued by Lesiba Seshoka, NUM spokesman, April 14 2011

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