School 'embarrassed' by Hofmeyr's racist antics
The Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool (WAP) says it was not aware that apartheid apologist and perennial public performer of the hated apartheid national anthem, Die Stem, would be performing, when a concert booking was made at the school.
The concert takes place tomorrow night, with education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa expressing shock that WAP has associated itself with Hofmeyr's antics.
Hofmeyr is currently on a concert tour in Namibia to launch his new album, titled Skree, and has already performed in Tsumeb, Otjiwarongo, Walvis Bay and Gobabis.
Unconfirmed reports say he performed Die Stem to end off his Walvis Bay concert.
In South Africa his apartheid apologist stance has been met with stern resistance, with some of his concerts being cancelled.
During a past visit to Namibia last year, a petition to then home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana mysteriously failed to reach her.
Hanse-Himarwa said it was unfortunate that Hofmeyr would be performing at WAP.
She questioned why the school was associating itself with such a controversial character.
“They know what the stance is against this artist, (yet) they associate themselves. This is disappointing.”
WAP spokesperson Arno van Wyk denied the school had any knowledge that Hofmeyr would perform on its premises prior to the booking being made.
According to him, there are people employed by the school that deal with bookings of this nature and often the school is not aware who will use its facilities and for what purpose.
“On Friday [last week] I was asked about the concert at the school and I enquired what concert (will be taking place). On that Friday I found out that it was rented out to a company called MR Entertainment,” said Van Wyk.
The school, he said, had no involvement in the concert, except for hiring out the venue.
“We took a decision to move away from that, we don't want exposure to the show; we don't have anything to do with it.” According to Van Wyk, the concert places the school in a bad light.
He, however, justified the decision taken to hire out the school facilities, saying the state of the country's economy was poor.
“This places us in a bad light, but we have to rent out our facilities to generate an income.”
Concert organiser Marsha Reede did not respond to queries, claiming she had a sore throat and could not talk. When she was sent a text message, Reede did not respond further.
Under pressure from the ruling ANC party in South Africa, the George municipality backtracked on leasing its city hall for use by Hofmeyr in April this year, according to media reports.
On 12 May 2011, Hofmeyr released the lyrics to his new song called 'Ons Sal Dit Oorleef'.
He had earlier threatened to include the ethnic slur kaffir in the lyrics of the song.
Hofmeyr, however, removed the offensive word from the original track, citing it would offend his black friends and colleagues.
He has also previously written on Twitter that black South Africans were the “architects of apartheid”.
OGONE TLHAGE
The concert takes place tomorrow night, with education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa expressing shock that WAP has associated itself with Hofmeyr's antics.
Hofmeyr is currently on a concert tour in Namibia to launch his new album, titled Skree, and has already performed in Tsumeb, Otjiwarongo, Walvis Bay and Gobabis.
Unconfirmed reports say he performed Die Stem to end off his Walvis Bay concert.
In South Africa his apartheid apologist stance has been met with stern resistance, with some of his concerts being cancelled.
During a past visit to Namibia last year, a petition to then home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana mysteriously failed to reach her.
Hanse-Himarwa said it was unfortunate that Hofmeyr would be performing at WAP.
She questioned why the school was associating itself with such a controversial character.
“They know what the stance is against this artist, (yet) they associate themselves. This is disappointing.”
WAP spokesperson Arno van Wyk denied the school had any knowledge that Hofmeyr would perform on its premises prior to the booking being made.
According to him, there are people employed by the school that deal with bookings of this nature and often the school is not aware who will use its facilities and for what purpose.
“On Friday [last week] I was asked about the concert at the school and I enquired what concert (will be taking place). On that Friday I found out that it was rented out to a company called MR Entertainment,” said Van Wyk.
The school, he said, had no involvement in the concert, except for hiring out the venue.
“We took a decision to move away from that, we don't want exposure to the show; we don't have anything to do with it.” According to Van Wyk, the concert places the school in a bad light.
He, however, justified the decision taken to hire out the school facilities, saying the state of the country's economy was poor.
“This places us in a bad light, but we have to rent out our facilities to generate an income.”
Concert organiser Marsha Reede did not respond to queries, claiming she had a sore throat and could not talk. When she was sent a text message, Reede did not respond further.
Under pressure from the ruling ANC party in South Africa, the George municipality backtracked on leasing its city hall for use by Hofmeyr in April this year, according to media reports.
On 12 May 2011, Hofmeyr released the lyrics to his new song called 'Ons Sal Dit Oorleef'.
He had earlier threatened to include the ethnic slur kaffir in the lyrics of the song.
Hofmeyr, however, removed the offensive word from the original track, citing it would offend his black friends and colleagues.
He has also previously written on Twitter that black South Africans were the “architects of apartheid”.
OGONE TLHAGE
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