Afriforum condemned Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema’s chanting of the “Kill the Boer” song during the party’s 10th anniversary rally.
The contentious chants were heard during Malema’s closing speech at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium over the weekend.
Afriforum had already filed a hate speech case against the EFF, but it was dismissed by the Equality Court last year. The organisation, however, is currently challenging the court’s judgement.
Afriforum’s Chief Executive for Strategy, Ernst Roets, clarified the ongoing court battle, saying: “The matter has been heard in the High Court, and there was a ruling on this last year, and the matter is going on appeal, so it will be going to the SCA in September.”
“That is the matter of whether the chanting of the song ‘kill the boer, kill the farmer’ is hate speech. Given the fact that the matter is still pending and in the process of going to court, it does not give Malema the right to chant this song,” says Roets.
Judge Edwin Molahlehi found last year that the song “Kill/Kiss the Boer” had an important role in South African political rhetoric, expressing frustration with the ANC’s failures since the country gained democracy.
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The judge emphasised that the interpretation of the song should be viewed in the context of Malema’s advocacy for land reform and dramatic economic transformation.
The song “assisted Malema in his dialogue with the state,” according to the judge, and helped the EFF leader establish the party’s perspective on economic policies in the country. As the legal procedure moves on to the Supreme Court of Appeal in September, the controversy surrounding the song continues to elicit heated debate.
