South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the controversial chant “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer,” stating that it is not intended to incite violence but should instead be understood within the historical context of the country’s anti-apartheid struggle.
The chant, which was recently highlighted by US President Donald Trump, formed part of a heated discussion between Trump and Ramaphosa. Trump used footage of opposition politician Julius Malema chanting the slogan to revive discredited claims of a white genocide in South Africa and questioned why Malema had not been arrested, mistakenly referring to him as a government official.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Ramaphosa clarified that the slogan originated during South Africa’s liberation movement and was not a literal call to kill farmers. “It’s not meant to be a message that elicits or calls upon anyone to be killed,” he said.
The president emphasised that South Africa’s constitution strongly protects freedom of speech and dismissed the idea that Malema should face legal consequences for the chant.
Malema, leader of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, continues to use the chant at public rallies, provoking outrage among some South Africans. Efforts to have it banned as hate speech have so far failed, with courts often citing its historical roots in the fight against apartheid.
In the footage shared by Trump, Malema is reportedly seen saying, “We are going to occupy land, we require no permission.” The statement has stoked further concerns about land reform policies, particularly a clause in the revised expropriation law allowing land to be taken without compensation in certain circumstances.
Ramaphosa responded by saying that the law does not open the door to indiscriminate land seizures and includes judicial oversight to ensure fairness. He explained that “nil compensation” would apply only in specific situations, such as when owners cannot be located or are burdened by debt, and the land is needed for the public good.
However, the Democratic Alliance, the country’s second-largest political party, has launched a legal challenge to the “nil compensation” provision, warning that it could be abused.
