Malema: How weapons became part of celebrations

A SOCIAL worker, Jessie Thompson, in the case (“illegal firearm discharge”) of Julius Malema, the president of the EFF, explained that in the charge, there was no intent to cause harm ... it was a celebration.

- TUMI BOITUMELO SENOKOANE

However, the magistrate, Twanet Olivier, questioned whether “anyone who is having a birthday today may walk down Oxford Street, shoot a firearm, and say it is their birthday and they are celebrating ...?”

One should conclude that the magistrate was sarcastic or ignorant or deliberate or wanted clarity. Anyone would know that the usage of weapons during celebrations is not a new phenomenon.

The 21-gun salute is the most obvious and popular one. The custom is linked to the naval tradition, and there are several reasons argued on why it existed. The first would be for the making of noise to do honour to the guest, and the second was the emptying of guns by firing as a gesture.

This was considered a friendly and trusting gesture, as once fired, the guns could not be easily and quickly reloaded; hence, an honour was conferred upon the guest. It was a sign that s/he was trusted and considered an ally or a sign of friendship; it was a signal from naval ships firing their cannons signalling that they had no hostile purposes, that they were disarmed and harmless; it was effected as a sign of respect and honour.

In Serbia, every new year starts with an explosion; people fire guns in the air, while children throw firecrackers. In The Citizen newspaper of March 29, an article was published titled “UFC Middleweight Champion Fires the Cannon”.