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Keep your trap shut, Steve warns Diamond

Johannesburg - South African singer and song writer Steve Hofmeyr says he hopes Neil Diamond does not say anything outrageous before he sings Sweet Caroline.

Hofmeyr dumped R5 000' worth of U2 concert tickets in the Jukskei River, because of Bono's take on "shoot the farmer", he tweeted on Sunday.

"I have just dumped my R5000 worth of U2 tickets in the Jukskei. I'm going home. I can find no context for that song. Sorry&goodbye," read a tweet, at around 14:00 on Hofmeyrs Twitter profile.

Hofmeyr who also seems to hold tickets for the upcoming Neil Diamond concert said he hoped the American artist kept his "trap shut" about politics.

"All I ask is that Neil Diamond keeps his political trap shut until after Sweet Caroline," he tweeted two hours later.

Irishman and U2 frontman, Bono told the Sunday Times in an interview that there was nothing wrong with political songs, but not at public gatherings.

He said: "I was a kid and I'd sing songs I remember my uncles singing... rebel songs about the early days of the Irish Republican Army,"

Bono then proceeded to sing on of the songs and its lyrics spoke of "carrying guns and readying them for action", the weekly newspaper said.

Irish sang about killing

"We sang this and it's fair to say it's folk music... as this was the struggle of some people that sang it over some time.

"But would you want to sing that in a certain community? It's pretty dumb," he said.

"Yet, it's about where and when you sing those songs. There's a rule for that kind of music," Bono said.

Hofmeyr describes himself on Twitter as an "Author, angry activist, talkshowhost, bookworm and daddy with 2 million units sold and a SAMA award for Best Selling South African Artist 2004".

U2 is set to perform in Johannesburg later on Sunday at the FNB Stadium in Soweto.

Dumb ass

Hofmeyr's comments got twitter user IfUSeeKStanny King saying: "The most intellegent thing to do regarding racist @steve_hofmeyr is to ignore the dumb ass afrikak".

Hofmeyr retweeted on this comment with: "@IfUSeeKStanny Try". Another Twitter user, gussilber said: "Honestly, What kind of example is Steve Hofmeyr setting? Pollution of the Jukskei is already a huge problem.

Georginaguedes said: "Can't say how delighted I am that there's no chance of bumping into Steve Hofmeyr tonight."

"He's a toss. Literally RT @gussilber: Steve Hofmeyr has just dumped R5,000 worth of U2 tickets in the Jukskei in protest against Bono," grightford said.

User AfricanFlute said: "This is dedicated to Steve Hofmeyr.: * singing* Ek wil huis toe gaan, na mama toe, die Jukskei rivier is vol U2 kaartjies!"

Hofmeyr on Sunday afternoon could not be reached for comment.

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