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Former president Nelson Mandela.
Madiba CD: two suspended
Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:00
Falcon Security has suspended a manager at Sun City while it
investigates the public playing of a CD containing lyrics insulting
former president Nelson Mandela, the company's CEO said on
Wednesday.
"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," CEO Ben Burger said in a statement.
"The company considers the national anthem, Nkosi Sikelela
[sic], a part of our national treasure and would never condone
desecrating its lyrics with any offensive and racially abusive
insertions, and it deeply regrets the harm that this incident
caused to those that heard a snippet of the song and those that
have subsequently been offended by the news of this incident."
Burger appeared in the Mogwase District Court on Tuesday on a
charge of crimen injuria and was released on R1500 bail.
In his statement issued by a public relations company, he said
he had been at a staff potjiekos family day at Sun City and various
CDs had been presented to be played during the event on Saturday.
He said he did not hear a 15-second snippet of the song and was
not near the company stand when it was played. However, he was
surrounded by police after someone complained.
He threw the CD into a dustbin and said he did not understand
why he was arrested because he was innocent.
He was not aware of the CD contents
Police on Tuesday said: "It is alleged that during the
competition he played a CD... containing remixed lyrics of the
national anthem, and people who attended the event listened to the
song Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, which continued to say Nelson Mandela
is a kaffir."
In the meantime, Warren Alberts, manager of operations for the
company, which has provided security at the international resort
for the last 14 years, was suspended.
Burger said Alberts said he was not aware of the contents of the
CD.
"Mr Alberts has stated in an affidavit that he was not aware of
the contents of the CD, but we have chosen to suspend him whilst we
fully investigate this matter and ensure that we get to the bottom
of it," Burger said.
"As a company we reject outright any forms of racism, and we
will do all in our power to demonstrate our commitment to a just,
non-racial and equitable South Africa."
The company would co-operate with the police.
"A thorough investigation has already been initiated into this
ugly incident, and once we have gotten to the bottom of this, we
will issue a full statement."