ANC RESPONSE TO SOUTH GAUTENG HIGH COURT RULING ON THE STRUGGLE SONG AYESABA AMAGWALA

The ANC is shocked and disappointed by the ruling of the South Gauteng High Court that the ANC struggle song ‘Ayesaba Amagwala is unconstitutional.

Our astonishment is informed by the fact that the high court did not make an effort to get input from the ANC as owners and experts on the struggle song on its mean, its history and its purpose. Had the court invited the ANC to make input the likelihood is that the high court would have reached a different conclusion on this matter. 

We therefore have instructed our lawyers to challenge the ruling at the Constitutional Court with immediate effect. We believe that this song like many other that were sung during the struggle days is part of our history and our heritage. It will be very unfortunate, if through our courts, that our history and our heritage were to be outlawed.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, African National Congress spokesperson, March 26 2010

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