Activists want Steve to stay away
About 360 people have signed an online petition calling on the home affairs ministry to deny South African singer Steve Hofmeyr entry to Namibia for a performance at the Swakopmund Kunstefees on 28 December.
The petition, which was initiated by local activist Lee Garises, branded Hofmeyr, whose show was cancelled in New Zealand in September over his unapologetic remarks about black Africans, an “apartheid apologist”.
“It sets a very dangerous precedent for Namibia to allow someone like him to enter the country for the performance slated for 28 December in Swakopmund,” she said.
“Namibia is a country still trying to heal from apartheid. Swakopmund is already a hotbed of racial tension (especially at this time of the year) and the country, under current President Geingob, has adopted a zero tolerance policy for racism and tribalism. We cannot afford a divisive artist to take us back to unrest.”
Garises claimed Hofmeyr and his supporters were on a mission to isolate the contemporary Afrikaner struggles from national development challenges facing Namibia and South Africa.
“There is no problem for Steve and co to address issues pertaining to his immediate community but how it's being done is what has offended Namibians from across the colour spectrum.
“It is compromising attempts at reconciliation when he associates himself with apartheid, which had a regrettable impact on race relations,” she said.
The minister of home affairs, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, said she had not received any petition.
“We deal with formal procedures here at the ministry. They cannot expect us to go to the internet and look for complaints. If people are serious then they must approach the ministry formally,” she said.
One of the organisers of the show, who requested anonymity, said the singer was being unfairly targeted.
The organiser also sent video footage to Namibian Sun showing Hofmeyr dancing with a group of black people, as a way of showing that he is not racist.
“He voted in favour of the rainbow nation. But I think it is because he exposes other politicians who sing songs about killing farmers that they are campaigning against him and labelling him as a racist. He lost sponsors and a lot of supporters in the process but he is serious that those murders must be stopped,” he said.
JEMIMA BEUKES
The petition, which was initiated by local activist Lee Garises, branded Hofmeyr, whose show was cancelled in New Zealand in September over his unapologetic remarks about black Africans, an “apartheid apologist”.
“It sets a very dangerous precedent for Namibia to allow someone like him to enter the country for the performance slated for 28 December in Swakopmund,” she said.
“Namibia is a country still trying to heal from apartheid. Swakopmund is already a hotbed of racial tension (especially at this time of the year) and the country, under current President Geingob, has adopted a zero tolerance policy for racism and tribalism. We cannot afford a divisive artist to take us back to unrest.”
Garises claimed Hofmeyr and his supporters were on a mission to isolate the contemporary Afrikaner struggles from national development challenges facing Namibia and South Africa.
“There is no problem for Steve and co to address issues pertaining to his immediate community but how it's being done is what has offended Namibians from across the colour spectrum.
“It is compromising attempts at reconciliation when he associates himself with apartheid, which had a regrettable impact on race relations,” she said.
The minister of home affairs, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, said she had not received any petition.
“We deal with formal procedures here at the ministry. They cannot expect us to go to the internet and look for complaints. If people are serious then they must approach the ministry formally,” she said.
One of the organisers of the show, who requested anonymity, said the singer was being unfairly targeted.
The organiser also sent video footage to Namibian Sun showing Hofmeyr dancing with a group of black people, as a way of showing that he is not racist.
“He voted in favour of the rainbow nation. But I think it is because he exposes other politicians who sing songs about killing farmers that they are campaigning against him and labelling him as a racist. He lost sponsors and a lot of supporters in the process but he is serious that those murders must be stopped,” he said.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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