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Oct 27, 2009 10:16 PM | By LAUREN COHEN

The security company involved in a racism scandal at the Sun City resort last weekend has apologised to Nelson Mandela for playing a racist version of the national anthem in which the former president was called a k*****.

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Photograph by: Halden Krog.
quote 'We reject outright any form of racism' quote

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Falcon Security chief executive Benjamin Burger was arrested at a potjiekos competition at Sun City on Saturday after the offensive song was played at a company function.

The company has suspended employee Warren Alberts, who was based at Sun City, claiming he was the person responsible for playing the song - although Burger said that Alberts had stated in an affidavit that "he was not aware of the contents of the CD". A full investigation was to be carried out, he said .

In a statement released yesterday, Falcon Security "apologised unreservedly to Nelson Mandela and the people of South Africa for the damage to his good name".

"As a company we reject outright any form of racism, and we will do all in our power to demonstrate our commitment to a just, non-racial and equitable South Africa," Burger said.

"Falcon understands that this incident has caused anger and upset to those that heard the song that was played without any approval from Falcon Security. The company considers the national anthem, Nkosi [Sikelel' iAfrika], a part of our national treasure and would never condone desecrating its lyrics ... [the company] deeply regrets the harm this incident caused."

Burger appeared in the Mogwase District Magistrate's Court yesterday on a charge of crimen injuria.

The matter was postponed to December 11. Sun International has said it will investigate the incident.

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Comments

Oct 28 2009 01:38:39 AM
Bruinmense
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Kaffir is derived from the Arabic word (Arabic) that is usually translated into English as "unbeliever". The word was originally applied to non-Muslim people in the south and east of the continent by coastal Arab traders. It is likely that Portuguese explorers, encountering these traders, interpreted the word as the ethnicity of the native African people they had encountered. --WIKIPEDIA
Oct 28 2009 01:40:28 AM
Bruinmense
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Early English usage
The works of Richard Hakluyt, contains an early written use of the term in English. He writes: calling them Cafars and Gawars, which is, infidels or disbelievers.

For example, the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford originally labeled many African artifacts as "Kaffir" in origin. The 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica made frequent use of the term, to the extent of having an article of that title.

(WIKIPEDIA)
Oct 28 2009 02:00:50 AM
Bruinmense
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Meanwhile the Dutch are celebrating The Mandela Musical, Amandla!

http://www.rnw.nl/english/video/amandla-mandela-musical-message
Oct 28 2009 04:19:33 AM
Billy Hill
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Fact is the K word has been used to abuse our people and it carries with it connotations of inferiority. It is principally used by racists and those whites who are "victim" to the need to see themselves as being racially superior.

When you're white trash with nothing going for you, it provides a convenient fallback to believing you at least have your skin color. Pffft.



Oct 28 2009 05:00:50 AM
big-kahunas
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This fiasco is no more sickening than the pure crap that comes out of Julius Malema's mouth and I dont see him being charged with crimen injuria.

Oct 28 2009 05:20:09 AM
tyrese
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Poor Burger! seems like man 'responsible' for the song was just as shocked about the contents of the cd, this needs to be investigated....but most importantly, he sounds apologetic and should be forgiven....i hope the old man takes it lightly, i know he's a forgiving man.
Oct 28 2009 05:37:55 AM
PrettyBoy
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@Big-Kahunas..Dont be an idiot at this ungodly hour, Burger is apologizing and i'm sure hope Mandela will accept so am i,But morons like you i dont think that want to pass this race issue if this is the case the will e no nation but a war,so we dont need that another wrong does make ones right.
Oct 28 2009 06:04:05 AM
objective
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big-kahunas I need to agree with you Malema has slandered, degraded and insulted whomever he pleased and this has gone unpunished as if it never happened. Is this equality?????????? Just a simple question - whats happened to human rights if all are not treated the same way???????????????
Oct 28 2009 06:09:21 AM
ZENETH
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What is clear is that such a CD exist and probably multiple copies have been produced and are played privately in a number of 'whites only' parties. This stupid Security chose the wrong platform to play what is a white's secret.

Thanks but no thanks Professor Jansen, these people will never ever change. Some go as far as calling a freedom fighter like Mandela an ex-convict.
Oct 28 2009 06:12:36 AM
nomakanjane
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at the end mandela will be the one to apologise and move on in the interest of reconciliation - i am watching the space!!!!


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