From: dekock@shannon.ee.wits.ac.za (Nick de Kock)
Subject: Re: All Blacks vs South Africa
Organization: Electrical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand
Date: 18 Aug 92 11:11:34 GMT

In <1992Aug17.012451.28460@mailhost.ocs.mq.edu.au> s8923098@macnab.mqcs.mq.oz.au (Josef WIDJAJA) writes:

>In article <1992Aug17.091928.10124@waikato.ac.nz> higham@waikato.ac.nz writes:
>|Interesting to see in that South African newspaper report nothing about the
>|disgraceful 1 minute silence planned for the start of the test in memory of the
>|deaths in the republic and for future peace. I found it extremely sad and
>|distasteful that large sections of the crowd ignored the silence and sang some
>|Boer anthem instead. For christs sake. And there is no excuse that the size of
>|the crowd precluded such an observance taking place, I've seen much bigger
>|stadiums than Ellis park stay quiet (Wembley stadium for example). What a slap
>|in the face for Nelson Mandela sitting in the stands, a continuation of a long
>|tradition of total insensitivity and racism to the majority of South Africas
>|people. 

It may have been a slap in the face for Mr Mandela but wherever he was -
he was NOT at Ellis Park. He was supposed to have attended but did not.
The ANC was represented by Mr Steve Tshwete - the ANC's 'troubleshooter'
for sports related issues (he was instrumental in their acceptance
of SA's attendance at the cricket world cup)

I feel a bit ambiguous over the whole affair myself - I must admit I
did feel acutely embarrased when elements of the crowd of +- 80000 pointedly
ignored the 'moment of silence' and sang 'Die Stem' (which - unrepresentative
or not - is the official national anthem of South Africa not 'some
Boer anthem'). Insensitivity? Of course. But what can you do? The average 
rugby supporter in SA is not the most sensitive guy. Average Australians and
New Zealanders aren't renowned for their sensitivity either. 
>...etc...

>Yeah. I didn't know there was a one minute silence until I read the paper
>this morning. I thought it was strange that the crowd started singing
>before the national anthems were played, and I also thought that playing
>the S.A national anthem was quite offensive since it represents
>opression of the Black South Africans. I am beginning to have doubts that
>the 1995 World Cup will be played in South Africa.
> 
Playing the national anthem was NOT an decision of the South African
Rugby Board. The decision was taken  by Louis Luyt - head of the Transvaal
Rugby Union - on the spur of the moment. According to him there was an 
agreement earlier between him and Eddie Tonks (the NZ rugby boss) that
neither of the anthems would be played (and the Haka would not be performed).
This was supposedly a compromise so that no-one would feel slighted.
Mr Luyt said that Mr Tonks reneged on the agreement at the last moment and
decided that the NZ anthem would be played. In his bullish manner Mr Luyt
then decided to play 'Die Stem' AFTER the silence had been observed.

My personal feeling is that 'Die Stem' should not have been played. But
I take great exception to the ANC's dictatorial manner. Who are they
to dictate how people should express themselves? Contrary to the image
they present to the outside world the National Executive Committee of
the ANC does not represent anyone other than an elite clique of ANC
members who elected it. Their support has (understandably) never been
tested by popular vote. 

Also -the ANC has double standards. At a soccer international held in
Harare, between SA and Zimbabwe on Sunday a similar 'silence' was requested.
If the newspaper reports are to be believed a large proportion of that
crowd ignored the request too. Also - the ANC flag was presented as though
it was the official South African flag and Nkosi Sikilel' i Afrika was
played as though it was the National Anthem. None of these things have been
agreed upon by the majority of South Africans. 

So why didn't  the ANC take exception to that? Because it suits them.
If this had happened in America everyone would be pushing the 5th 
Amendment. It wouldn't have helped - everyone knows that freedom of
speech in South Africa only applies to the ANC.

And lastly the Wallabies test will go ahead - and I'm betting the Aussies
will get thumped. I bet they wish the ANC would tell them to go home.

(Donning flameproof suit now ;-) )
-- 
Nick de Kock, High Voltage Group        | Internet dekock@odie.ee.wits.ac.za    
Electrical Engineering, Wits University |                 or
Johannesburg, South Africa              |      dekock@shannon.ee.wits.ac.za
....Another Churchill quote pending...........

Newsgroups: rec.sport.rugby