African flag at school
24 October 2006
North West Premier, Edna Molewa, has condemned in the strongest possible
terms the displaying of the old flag of apartheid South Africa at Christelike
Volks Onderwys (CVO) School in Litchtenburg.
It has also emerged that the learners at the school sing Die Stem during
morning assemblies and not the official national anthem.
"This amounts to an insult and disrespect to our national symbols and the
strides we have made as a nation to build an inclusive society," said
Molewa.
The school management has apparently said the old national anthem and the
apartheid flag are a cultural expression. Molewa rejected this explanation: "It
appears we are dealing here with a passionate hankering for the past which is
masquerading as preservation of culture. The old apartheid flag was a symbol of
oppression and racial divisions and had nothing to do with the culture of any
group."
The Premier has already ordered the Department of Education to investigate
the issue. The CVO is a private school that receives an annual grant from the
provincial government.
Enquiries:
Cornelius Tanana Monama
Tel: (018) 387 3456
Cell: 082 578 4063
Issued by: North West Provincial Government
24 October 2006
