FRIDAY BRIEFING | Kill the s*ng: The cost of singing 'Kill the Boer' | News24 (2025)

Kill the s*ng: The cost of singing 'Kill the Boer'

In 1993, as anger simmered over the death of Chris Hani,Peter Mokaba, then president of the ANC Youth League, broke into the anti-apartheid chant "Kill the Boer, kill the farmer" at a memorial for the SACP leader.

The song would remain popular until tensions died down, and a new democracy was born, which saw the song disappear into obscurity. That was until 2010, when Jullius Malema who was then leader of the ANCYL started singing it at public events.

Since then debate has raged around the controversial song, with liberation veterans and historians claiming it should not be taken literally. However, other organisations, such as AfriForum, disagreed and subjected the song to several court cases.

It was eventually declared hate speech and not protected by the right to freedom of speech enshrined in South Africa’s Constitution.

In 2022, the Gauteng High Court's judgment changed that. It ruled the song did not constitute hate speech, saying AfriForum had failed to prove Malema was inciting harm against white people.

The Supreme Court of Appeals confirmed this view, with the Constitutional Court later saying it would not hear an appeal against the SCA's ruling.

Despite the court's ruling, political football over the song continued along with rising tensions between the US and South Africa. Elon Musk upheld that the song actively promoted white genocide. US President Donald Trump invited Afrikaners to take up refugee status in the US.

On Sunday, City Press columnist Mondli Makhanya wrote that while Malema has the right to sing the song, what is the point of continuing? Malema thinks the song paints him as a radical, but it has broader implications for national cohesion.

And as we celebrate 31 years of democracy on Sunday, isn't that a more important value to uphold than trying to irk the country's right.

In this week's Friday Briefing, advocate Ben Winks reflects on why the court ruled the way it did, and News24 columnist Qaanitah Hunter wades into Malema's politics and why he will most likely continue singing the song.

We also have a Q&A with DA chairperson Helen Zille on the suspension of the VAT increase.

Kill the Boer: What do the Courts' decisions mean for our political discourse?

Does the courts' recent rulings mean that "Shoot the Boer" can never be considered hate speech? Of course not, writes Ben Winks, who reflects on what the judgment means for our political discourse

Read the articlehere.

Shallow performance politics won’t save the EFF

If there's any real benefit to Julius Malema in singing Dubul’ ibhunu – "Kill the Boer". it's the global attention – not votes, writes Qaanitah Hunter.

Read the article here.

Kill the boer: Why it is time to sing a new song

While it may not be against the law to sing of "Dubul' ibhunu," it remains harmful to the nation-building project and undermines social cohesion, argues Bert Pretorius.

Read the article here.

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Federal council chairperson Helen Zille explains why she thinks this is a victory for the DA.

Read the articlehere.