Kill The Boer: Struggle Song Borders On A Push For Genocide

“Right-wing commenters claim that an old anti-apartheid chant is a call to anti-white violence, but historians and the left-wing politician who embraces it say it should not be taken literally.” Read a paragraph in the New York Times.

An article written in The New York Times, by John Eligon, who attended the EFF’s 10-anniversary in Johannesburg, came out in support as he wrote;

“In recent years, people on the right in South Africa and the United States, including former President Donald J. Trump, have seized on attacks on white farmers to make the false claim that there have been mass killings.”

Supporting the notion that the claims of “Mass Genocide” were nothing but a “false claim”. Eligon appears biased in his coverage while also pointing out Musk’s race as being “white”. Is this to infer a type of “bias”, and if so, what is the reasoning?

Popularized by Peter Mokaba in the early 90s, this song can incite conflict and violence among people who take its lyrics literally, even if they still hold a grudge.

With a lack of discipline in our youth today, anyone is liable to take the words “Kill The Boer” (*meaning Farmer in English) and act on it.

Malema, who enjoys stirring up controversy, appeared unconcerned about the criticism. He sent Mr Steenhuisen a post, saying, “Bring it on little boy.”

Bring it on small boy, we are not the @MYANC

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) July 31, 2023

While The New York Times calls out those opposed to this song as “right-wing commenters”, we can see a biased representation of this issue.

At a news conference, Malema arrogantly insisted that he would continue to sing “Kill The Boer’, while blasting Elon Musk, saying, “He looks like an illiterate. The only thing that protects him is his white skin.”

EFF leader Julius Malema doubles down on “kill the Boer [whites]” and attacks Elon Musk:

“He looks like an illiterate. The only thing that protects him is his white skin.” pic.twitter.com/4uPVVF9855

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) August 3, 2023

Calling on genocide is exactly how this song is being translated across all borders.

“They are openly pushing for genocide of white people in South Africa,” Mr Musk wrote on Monday on X (formerly Twitter), the platform he now owns.

They are openly pushing for genocide of white people in South Africa. @CyrilRamaphosa, why do you say nothing?

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 31, 2023

Cyril Ramaphosa won’t be investigating the matter further, according to the President’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya.

The president’s denial of the South African farmer’s genocide and lack of leadership raises questions about his support for such behaviour.

De la Rey

Another controversial song that has received criticism from the opposite side of the fence is, ‘De la Rey’. A folk song about an Afrikaner Boer war general, Koos de la Rey, who opposed war with the British because he did not believe the Afrikaner republics could win. But once the war began, de la Rey threw himself into the fight, playing a heroic role in the British defeat at Magersfontein.

The belief now is that ‘De la Rey’ no longer represents animosity towards the British, but is now aimed at the blacks in a post-apartheid country.

The difference between the two songs is, one does not blatantly call for the killing of a group, while the other does.

According to Archive and Public Culture, who claimed that “right-wingers” could hijack the music, said, “It would be a terrible shame if a handful of misguided individuals hope to use an innocent song as a rallying point for treason”

This begs the question. Should we ban both songs?

Conclusion

With the ongoing rise of misguided youth in our culture, one can easily assume that anything is possible within the youth of today.

Should we then not look at “Kill The Boer” under the same contextual argument as given in the reasons for, “De la Rey”?