Die Stem van Suid-Afrika (Afrikaans: [di ˈstɛm fan sœyt ˈɑːfrika], lit.
Langenhoven wrote an Afrikaans poem called "Die Stem", for which music was composed in 1921 by Marthinus Lourens de Villiers [af], a reverend.
[1] It was sung in English as well as Afrikaans from 1952 onward,[9][10] with both versions having official status in the eyes of the state,[11] while "God Save the Queen" did not cease to be a co-national anthem until May 1957, when it was dropped from that role.
Agreements were made with the African National Congress (ANC) that "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" would not be sung at rugby matches,[22] due to its connection to the apartheid system and minority rule (which led the ANC and other such groups at the time to view the song as offensive).
[22] However, at a rugby union test match against New Zealand in 1992, the crowd spontaneously sang "Die Stem" during a moment of silence for victims of political violence in South Africa,[23] and although it was ostensibly agreed upon beforehand that it would not be played, an instrumental recording of "Die Stem" was played over the stadium's PA system's loudspeakers after the New Zealand national anthem was performed, and spectators sang along, sparking controversy afterwards.
[24][25][26][27][28] Although it remained the official national anthem of the state during this time period, both the usage of it and the then-national flag began to dwindle whenever possible, particularly overseas.
Instead, it was decided to retain "Die Stem"'s official status after the advent of full multi-racial democracy which followed the 1994 general election.
[34] After 1994, it shared equal status with "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", which had long been a traditional hymn used by the ANC.
In 1995, "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" was sung by a black choir at the Rugby World Cup final match,[35][36] as it had been done at the 1994 South African presidential inauguration in Pretoria,[37] first in Afrikaans and then in English.
The practice of singing two different national anthems had been a cumbersome arrangement during the transition to post-apartheid South Africa.
[51][52][53] When "Die Stem" was mistakenly played by event organisers in place of the current South African national anthem during a UK-hosted women's field hockey match in 2012, it sparked outrage and confusion among the South African staff members and players present.
Ringing out from our blue heavens, From our deep seas breaking round; Over everlasting mountains, Where the echoing crags resound; From our plains where creaking wagons Cut their trails into the earth, Calls the spirit of our country, Of the land that gave us birth.
Through our far-deserted plains With the groan of ox-wagon – Rises the voice of our beloved, Of our country South Africa.
In our body and our spirit, In our inmost heart held fast; In the promise of our future, And the glory of our past; In our will, our work, our striving, From the cradle to the grave – There's no land that shares our loving, And no bond that can enslave.