Mokale Koapeng: 'Members of the anthem committee did not compose a single note...'

[J.S. Mzilikazi Khumalo (b. 1939)]

Yesterday AfriClassical posted: “Mzilikazi Khumalo Is Not An Owner Of South African Anthem's Copyright”. We excerpted an article by Sanchia Temkin in BusinessDay, “South Africa: National Anthem 'Is the Property of the State'”. We have received a comment from our friend Mokale Koapeng, a South African composer and choral director:

“Hi Bill, As a matter of fact, Mzilikazi Khumalo is not the composer of the anthem. He was part of what is called the anthem committee. It was comprised of Prof. Khumalo, Prof. Jeane Zaidel-Rudolph and D.I.C de Villiers. They arranged and presented a shortened version of two anthems that were already existing, Nkosi Sikelel'iAfrica by Enoch Sontonga and Uit die lou van onse hemel by M.L de Villiers. Members of the anthem committee did not compose a single note in the anthems. All they did they was arrange. As to copyright ownership of a national symbol that is something else. Regards, Mokale” [J.S. Mzilikazi Khumalo (b. 1932) is profiled at AfriClassical.com]
J.S. Mzilikazi Khumalo
South African Composer
Anthem Committee
Enoch Sontonga
M.L. de Villiers
Mokale Koapeng