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Daily Maverick
21 hours ago
- General
- Daily Maverick
Words that wound — ‘Kill the Boer' is legal, but not wise for a fragile South Africa
In March 2025, South Africa's Constitutional Court upheld a contentious ruling that the slogan 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer,' a liberation-era chant, does not constitute hate speech under South African law. This judgment followed an appeal by AfriForum against a previous judgment. The civil rights organisation argued that the slogan incited violence and hatred, particularly against white South Africans and especially farmers. The court found, however, that the phrase, when understood in its historical and political context, did not meet the legal threshold of hate speech. That said, it is argued here that while the slogan may be constitutionally protected, its deliberate use in contemporary political settings is not merely provocative, it is profoundly unwise. In a society still grappling with the legacies of apartheid, endemic inequality and fragile race relations, words carry weight far beyond their legal definitions. It is within this context that the South Africa Social Cohesion Index (Sasci), developed by the Inclusive Society Institute, has drawn timely attention to a worrying decline in societal cohesion by providing critical insights into why the continued use of divisive slogans serve only to jeopardise the country's progress toward unity and social stability. The Constitutional Court's reasoning The Constitutional Court's dismissal of the appeal by AfriForum was grounded in legal and historical nuance. The justices concurred with the 2022 Equality Court ruling that the chant should not be taken literally but as a symbolic relic of the anti-apartheid struggle. It was not, they emphasised, a call to actual violence against individuals or groups. There was also insufficient evidence linking the use of the slogan to specific acts of harm or incitement, which is a requirement for speech to be classified as hate speech under South African law. This decision reaffirmed the robust commitment of the South African judiciary to freedom of expression, one of the bedrock rights enshrined in the post-apartheid Constitution. It recognises that a democratic society must allow space for emotional, political and even uncomfortable speech. But freedom of speech is not equal to freedom from consequence. Social cohesion under strain According to the 2024 Sasci, South Africa is treading a narrow ridge between cohesion and fragmentation. The index, which measures solidarity, fairness, trust, identity, civic participation and respect for institutions, paints a picture of partial resilience and underlying volatility. Solidarity sits at 61.3, indicating moderate willingness to care for others regardless of identity, but still vulnerable to racial and economic fault lines; Perception of Fairness, however, is a weak point, at 42.7, reflecting widespread public sentiment that South Africa's socioeconomic systems remain unjust; Intergroup Trust is alarmingly low – just 41% of black and white South Africans express some trust in one another; and Identification, that is, the sense of belonging to a shared national identity, is strong at 72.2, and is the glue that is holding the nation together. But this is susceptible to erosion under divisive rhetoric. These findings underscore a society still recovering from historical trauma, where the social glue is thin and brittle. Therefore, it is in this context that the use of a slogan such as 'Kill the Boer' must be evaluated, not in a courtroom, but in the court of public morality and nation-building. The political weaponisation of memory Chants such as 'Kill the Boer' are more than mere slogans. They are symbolic vessels, carrying the memory of past struggles, but also the potential to stir contemporary fears. So, with this in mind, it follows that the historical justification of the chant, which is rooted in anti-apartheid resistance, does not automatically make its current use, politically or socially, justifiable. In today's South Africa, invoking such slogans, especially during political rallies or in highly charged public platforms, is often a calculated act. It is a way of stoking populist sentiment, galvanising political bases and appealing to historical loyalties. But this comes at a steep cost: the polarisation of society, the re-traumatisation of communities and the erosion of hard-won intergroup solidarity. The Trump factor and global amplification The domestic controversy over 'Kill the Boer' took on international significance during South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to the White House in May 2025. In a meeting with US President Donald Trump, the slogan once again found itself at the centre of a geopolitical flashpoint. Trump, resurrecting claims he first made in 2018, alleged that white South African farmers were the targets of a 'genocide'. He presented images purporting to show images of murdered white farmers. President Ramaphosa firmly rejected Trump's assertions, defending South Africa's constitutional land reform process and reaffirming the courts' dismissal of the 'white genocide' narrative. Yet, the damage had been done because Trump's global platform amplified fringe narratives and served to validate domestic fear-based politics within South Africa. This episode demonstrates how international rhetoric can dangerously reinforce internal social divisions, skew the global perception of South Africa's challenges and undermine the legitimacy of its reconciliation and land reform processes. Why legal speech can still be harmful Even if the courts are correct in finding that 'Kill the Boer' does not legally constitute hate speech, it is crucial to understand that legality does not equate to wisdom, unity or responsibility. In a country with such deep wounds, where race, land, identity and violence intersect in volatile ways, rhetoric matters. When political figures or public activists invoke this chant in the present day, they must consider: The historical trauma it reactivates for many white South Africans; The fear it induces among farming communities; The backlash it sparks from domestic and international actors; and Most importantly, the distrust and division it fuels between already polarised communities. Words, especially in political arenas, do not exist in a vacuum. They shape social perception, inform behaviour and influence whether people feel safe, respected and included. What leadership requires Leadership in a democratic society does not simply involve defending rights; it involves exercising them responsibly. South Africa's path forward depends not only on constitutional fidelity, but on a moral and social imagination capable of transcending inherited grievances. Political leaders and public influencers must ask: Does this speech unify or divide? Does it heal or harm? The question is no longer about what is legal, but what is nation-building. This is by no means a call for censorship. It is a call for ethical and moral restraint and for choosing reconciliation over rhetoric. And for choosing unity over provocation. It is possible to honour the past without weaponising it. It is possible to demand justice without alienating communities. It is possible to seek equity without amplifying enmity. Conclusion: The test of nationhood South Africa's journey from apartheid to democracy is often lauded as a global symbol of reconciliation. But symbols can become brittle. The Sasci's data tell us that the social cement is cracking and the slogan controversy is one fault line among many. If left unaddressed, such fissures can widen into fractures. The Constitutional Court has spoken on what the law allows. Now the burden falls to civil society, political leaders and ordinary citizens to determine what wisdom, justice and reconciliation demand. In a country where speech has the power to harm or to heal, the future will not be built by shouting into wounds, but by speaking into hope. DM
AFP
a day ago
- Business
- AFP
Old video of political rally in South Africa predates diplomatic row with US over white farmers
'South African communists are celebrating the expropriation of land from exiled white farmers and calling for the killing of those who remain,' reads an X post published with a video on May 22, 2025. Image Screenshot of a misleading X post published on May 22, 2025 The 15-second clip shows a stadium full of people wearing red shirts, the same colours of the radical left South African political party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). The crowd chants, 'Kill the Boer'. The 'boers' are white Afrikaans farmers, descendants of the first Dutch settlers in South Africa. The chant, reprised in recent years by the EFF, was a popular struggle song in apartheid aimed at the repressive Afrikaner nationalist establishment. Even after 30 years of democracy, land ownership in the country remains contentious, at home and abroad. After South Africa's parliament ratified an amended property expropriation law earlier this year, Trump falsely accused the government of a 'white genocide' and encouraged Afrikaners, especially farmers, to apply for refugee status (archived here). The claim circulated primarily in French, while other posts were shared in Spanish and Portuguese. AFP Fact Check previously debunked this claim in French. Image Screenshots of similar French misleading posts published on May 20, 2025 Claims that the video shows South African 'communists' celebrating the expropriation of farms left behind by fleeing whites are misleading. 2024 EFF election rally A reverse image search of keyframes taken from the video reveals that it appeared online as early as March 3, 2024 — long before the first group of white South Africans granted asylum arrived in the US. It was featured in an X post about EFF's election manifesto launch which had occurred the day before (archived here). The political party's poster on Facebook confirmed the manifesto launch date as March 2, 2024, at South Africa's Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto (archived here). A keyword search of the EFF's YouTube account shows there was a live broadcast of the rally (archived here). AFP Fact Check matched part of the audio in the video on X with audio about 68 minutes into the live stream. The clip features EFF leader Julius Malema, whose party secured 9.5 percent of the vote in the country's 2024 general elections. Malema is wearing the same white T-shirt in both the viral video (filmed from the stage) and the one posted on the EFF's YouTube channel. We also matched people on the stage with him to confirm it was the same event: a woman in a green dress and red beret and a man in a black shirt. Image Screenshots comparing the EFF video (left) and the misleading post video (right) Anti-apartheid song Malema and EFF supporters are known for singing 'Kill the Boer', a song originally chanted in protest against the former racist white-minority rule regime. The song was also part of the footage played in the Oval Office on May 21, 2025, when Trump ambushed Ramaphosa during their diplomatic meeting with a video package, as supposed proof of his claims about an ongoing genocide (archived here). Image Donald Trump and Cyril Ramaphosa watch the video package in the Oval Office on May 21, 2025 (GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / CHIP SOMODEVILLA) But many, including South Africa's ex-president Thabo Mbeki, have said the song is not meant to be taken literally (archived here). Ramaphosa reiterated this (archived here) on May 27, 2025, telling the media that 'it's not meant to be a message that elicits or calls upon anyone to be killed'. "We are a country where freedom of expression is in the bedrock of our constitutional arrangements," Ramaphosa added, dismissing Trump's suggestion that Malema should be arrested for singing the song. Singing the song was banned in 2010, but the Equality Court ruled it should be seen as a historical symbol in the fight against racial segregation and not as real incitement to hatred (archived here). In 2024, the country's Constitutional Court, the highest in the land, upheld that view (archived here). Diplomatic tensions At the end of January 2025, South Africa passed a law regulating expropriations and setting conditions for compensating former owners in all but exceptional cases (archived here). Most legal experts said the law clarifies the existing framework without major changes. But Trump claims it allows the illegal seizure of land from white farmers, who owned 72 percent of agricultural land according to 2017 government data (archived here). Trump has also accused the South African government of discrimination and of conducting a "white genocide", which AFP Fact Check previously debunked. The US offered white farmers asylum based on this falsehood, and had welcomed around fifty people by May 12, 2025. Local media reported that more Afrikaners also quietly arrived in the US on May 30, 2025 (archived here).
The South African
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Rob Hersov on EFF's 'Kill the Boer' chant: 'It's fundamentally evil'
South African capitalist activist and entrepreneur Rob Hersov has weighed into the issue of the genocide of white farmers in South Africa. Hersov appeared as a guest on the 'Rob Schmitt Tonight' show on Newsmax this week. He called the 'Kill the Boer' chant of Julius Malema's EFF party 'fundamentally evil' and a 'disgrace'. Meanwhile, Hesov recently delivered a hard-hitting open letter to US President Donald Trump and US ambassador-designate Brent Bozell, in which he exposed the ANC's corruption, anti-American stance, and destructive governance. Hersov delivered the letter via a video uploaded to his Truth Report News YouTube channel. The video came ahead of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's trip to the US where he met with Donald Trump in Washington DC on Wednesday, 21 May. Hersov's video has divided opinion among South Africans. Some called for Hersov to join the 49 white Afrikaner 'refugees' in the United States, while others simply stated 'he's telling the truth'. Below, just a handful of the comments left on the Facebook post which went viral this week. America has become an International Court of Law. Let's South African people solve their problems those who want to relocate to America they are more than welcome to do so . What I believe in is even America have problems like any other countries. They are not special. Let's share the Land – Mabaso He's telling the truth – Siyabonga Thank you for fighting…with us… – Hettie Let him go join the 49 farmers/car guards – Aquiline As if Trump owns South Africa! What the hell is he gonna do about that info that ANC is destroying SA? Trump himself is destroying America and that's not Africa's problem. ANC was voted into power by citizens of SA. Trump fits nowhere on that matter – Kholofelo Guys please enlighten me… how come is Donald Trump a saint while he has so many convictions of corruption…. how is he going to safe SA.. from corruption… – Ngazi Is he wrong though ? We cry everyday on how these comrades abuse our country – Angelo I'm yet to hear Rob Hersov speak about South Africa without mentioning the US – Mpilonhle Which is true, anc are just criminals all of them – Alfred Politicians are using Trump to fight the ANC but they don't see that they are making ANC stronger, everytime i see racist comments i am also reminded of the pain our parents went through. These parties must not take the apartheid effect light because people rather vote for a corrupt ANC as long as they are lead by a black government.. Apartheid really feels like it happened yesterday hence it's not easy to forget especially when you see some people commenting like it's not a big thing – KG ANC needs to automatically step down n give the other party a chance to lead, just once. I want to see something – Zodwa Racists like this keep dividing South Africa which is dangerous, and they know if shit hits the fan by this behavior they will be the first one to run because they have dual citizenships and money, they think this Trump will be President forever – Clive There is some truth is this, SA is listed as a dangourous country, it's goverment is corupted and it's looks like it's going backwards instead of forward. Durban Beachfront now and 30 years ago, huge diffrent. That place looks so dodgy now. Especially the backroad that was once busseling with life. I disagree that Trump is The Man. He's just an Orange idiot who puts his nose where it doesn't belong. He should deal with the mass shootings and poverty in his own country. As this moment nearly half the world dislikes America, not just the SA goverment. Free that sniper dude who missed and give him a second chance at aming properly – Brenda Praise God for this man. Kudos to you Rob, kudos to you my man – HoofSeun He can write to whom he wants to. Not other people's business – Elize Meanwhile, in another video this month, Rob Hersov says South Africa just picked a fight with the most powerful country on Earth … America. And it wasn't by accident. It was by design – reckless, arrogant, and utterly self-destructive, he added. As always, Hersov pulled no punches. Full transcript below the video: South Africa just picked a fight with the most powerful country on Earth – America. And it wasn't by accident. It was by design – reckless, arrogant and utterly self-destructive. Let me give you the facts: South Africa is one of the top 10 countries that consistently votes against the United States in the United Nations. In 2018, South Africa's ambassador to Venezuela offered military support – military support – against a potential US invasion. The ANC has endorsed dictators like Fidel Castro, Gaddafi, Mugabe, Stalin, and even Mao Zedong. And in 2019, the US, UK, Germany and other countries warned South Africa to fix corruption or kiss investment goodbye. And what was the ANC's response? To call those countries imperialist threats and double down on their anti-West rhetoric. And in 2020, ANC members chanted, and I quote, 'One bullet, one American outside the US embassy in Pretoria.' And South Africa's embassy in Washington DC? It's essentially defunct, no ambassador for two years, pure diplomatic negligence. Mr Trump's Truth Social post 2 February was the first of many warning shots and yet the ANC did nothing. So let me give you the truth behind the numbers. South Africa's so-called non-aligned status is a lie. Publicly neutral, privately pro-China, pro-Russia, pro-Iran and cozy with human rights abusers. And what don't they want you to know? Well, the ANC is actively undermining Western partnerships. They've gutted our embassies, alienated allies and openly backed terror-linked groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. And the ANC take bribes from Iran to sue Israel and the ICJ. This isn't diplomacy, it's delusion. Free markets, crumbling, western values, rejected, and traditional principles? Traded for populist posturing and Marxist nostalgia. So here's the wake-up call. Why aren't more South Africans screaming about this? Because the ANC has wrapped itself in the liberation flag while torching the nation's future. The ANC has been bootlicking China and Russia while insulting the only countries that have ever offered us prosperity. But Donald Trump is back and he's watching, he's reading, he's listening, and he's getting ready. What's the bottom line here? Well, we have a path forward. The path forward is to fire the diplomats who can't do their job, rebuild our embassies with professionals, not cadres. And let's recommit to the West, because that's where the investment, the innovation, and the future lies. We know that, the majority of South Africans know it. The stakes? Well the stakes are high. Without AGOA we're going to lose 250 000 jobs, factories are going to close, farmers will go bankrupt, food security out the window. And the G20 Summit we're hosting this year is destined to be a humiliating disaster if President Trump and other important leaders boycott – which is likely. Other African nations are playing it smart. Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, even Zimbabwe, they're reaching out to America. They're making deals while we're burning bridges. South Africa doesn't have to be a failed state, but to save this country we need leaders with courage, not cowards in suits. We need the truth, not ideology. So here it is, loud and clear: Fix this damn foreign policy before there's nothing left to fix. Let's put South Africa first, at last. Robert Basil Hersov, born on 9 October 1960 in Johannesburg, is a business executive and entrepreneur. His grandfather, Bob Hersov, was the founder of AngloVaal, one of Southern Africa's largest mining and industrial companies. His father, Basil Hersov, ran the company from 1973 to 2001. The family sold AngloVaal in the 1990s. Rob Hersov serves as chairman and CEO (and founder) of Invest Africa, Chairman and Partner (and founder) of African Capital Investments. His parents are Basil Edward Hersov and Antoinette. Hersov matriculated from Michaelhouse in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. In 1982 he studied at the University of Cape Town and obtained a degree. In 1989 he obtained his MBA from Harvard Business School. He began his career at Goldman Sachs in New York and then became head of the European media investment banking team at Morgan Stanley in London. From 1989 to 1991 he was business development manager at News Corporation in New York for chairman Rupert Murdoch. After this he became a board member of the luxury goods company Richemont SA, and also managed FilmNet. He then became CEO of Telepiu Srl in Milan, Italy's largest pay-TV company, belonging to the Mediaset media group, where he was also a member of the board of directors, until August 1997. In 1999, he started his own business as an investor and entrepreneur. In September 1999, he co-founded Antfactory; in November 1999, he helped found In 2021, he acquired Fisantekraal Airport, west of Durbanville, and renamed it 'Cape Winelands Airport'. He aims to develop it into a vibrant airport and secondary hub for Cape Town. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
'Ramaphosa violating Genocide Convention on'Kill the Boer'
Ramaphosa said that 'Kill The Boer' is a 'liberation chant' and should not be taken literally. Lobby group AfriForum claims that President Cyril Ramaphosa's 'refusal' to condemn the chant 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer' reflects double standards. Ramaphosa on Tuesday said that 'Kill The Boer' is a 'liberation chant' and should not be taken literally. It came a week after US President Donald Trump confronted the South African president by playing videos of EFF leader Julius Malema chanting 'Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer,' using them to support his unfounded claim of genocide against whites in South Africa. In response, AfriForum argued that the ANC-led government's defence of the slogan, while passing judgment on similar rhetoric elsewhere in the world, highlighted inconsistencies in its interpretation of the United Nations' Genocide Convention. 'Double standards' The lobby group based its statement on evidence presented by Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, a member of South Africa's legal team, who led the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in January 2024. 'Ngcukaitobi argued that 'the intentional failure of the government of Israel to condemn, prevent and punish such genocidal incitement constitutes in itself a grave violation of the Genocide Convention,'' the lobby group said. 'Ngcukaitobi further argued that 'this failure to condemn, prevent and punish such speech by the government has served to normalise genocidal rhetoric' and has posed 'extreme danger for Palestinians within Israeli society,'' AfriForum said. AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel described this as a case of 'double standard'. 'The ANC-led government's defence of the 'Kill the Boer' slogan, while passing judgment about similar calls elsewhere in the world as an intent to commit genocide, is evidence of double standards in their interpretation of the Genocide Convention. Kriel pointed out that 'farm murder deniers' are trying 'very hard to downplay the serious nature of farm murders' after Trump's meeting with Ramaphosa. 'AfriForum has always focused on the serious nature of farm murders rather than engaging in semantic debates about the term 'genocide' but believes it has now become necessary to test the actions of Ramaphosa's government against their own standards regarding the meaning of genocide'. ALSO READ: Piers Morgan slams Ramaphosa for defending 'Kill the Boer' chant [VIDEO] AfriForum defeat In March, AfriForum suffered a final blow in its attempt to have the controversial chant 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer' declared as hate speech. The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) delivered a brief ruling dismissing AfriForum's application for leave to appeal. The Apex concluded that the application 'bears no reasonable prospects of success'. ALSO READ: WATCH: 'Dim the lights' — Ramaphosa pokes fun at Trump meeting
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Misleading 'white crosses' video: Solidarity responds to Trump's genocide claims
US President Donald Trump hands papers, purporting to be evidence of a white genocide in South Africa, to President Cyril Ramaphosa during a meeting in the Oval Office in Washington on Wednesday. Image: AFP The AfriForum's aligned Solidarity Union described the video shown by US President Donald Trump, as video evidence of mass atrocities and genocide carried out against white Afrikaner farmers in South Africa as misleading. President Cyril Ramaphosa, with his delegation that included popular South African golfers Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and businessman Johann Rupert, met with Trump on Wednesday to try and mend ties between the two nations. Trump ambushed Ramaphosa during a tense exchange with a series of contested claims about the killings of white farmers in South Africa, referring to it as white genocide. The US President asked for a montage of video clips to be played, which showed EFF president Julius Malema chanting 'Kill the Boer' and footage that showed rows of crosses, which Trump said were the graves of white people. "People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety. Their land is being confiscated, and in many cases, they're being killed," Trump said. Responding to the footage, Ramaphosa asked Trump if he knew this was, saying he had never seen it before. Trump insisted it was in South Africa. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ However, head of international liaison at Solidarity Jaco Kleynhans said the video was not related to a white genocide, saying that the footage was shot in 2020 after one incident of farm murders near Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal. 'The footage that Trump showed was that of another event and it's not graves, it's just a series of crosses.…There was a misunderstanding. Farmers were protesting against farm killings. 'In this case there had been a farm murder where a farmer and his wife were killed during a robbery," he said. Kleynhans did stress, however, that there a memorial had been erected 30 years ago between Polokwane and Mokopane in Limpopo that pays homage to farmers that have been killed on their farms. 'The memorial is next to the N1 on a farm between Polokwane and Mokopane. There are around 3,000 crosses for everyone that died in farm attacks in the last 30 years,' Kleynhans said. He said the memorial, which consisted of about 3,000 small crosses that form the shape of a large cross, was not exclusively for white farmers but anybody that had been killed on a farm. 'The vast majority, more than 90%, are Afrikaner farmers. But it is not exclusively Afrikaners and the crosses are not just for Afrikaners who died in farm attacks. He said white farmers make up 0,03% of the South African population (25,000 out of 63 million) but 1% of all murders in 2024 were of farmers. He added that this did not translate to a fully fledged genocide but he blamed the government for not prioritising farm murders. 'We believe farmers, and especially white Afrikaner farmers are targeted and affected by farm attacks brought about by a deliberate effort by the government not to ensure safety in rural, farm areas, an unwillingness by the police to safeguard farming communities and the continued use of hate songs that encourage violence against white farmers. 'This is not yet a full-fledged genocide, but is a dangerous precursor to greater violence that could ultimately lead to genocide,' he said. He said since the government dismantled the commando units, an armed unit that was designed to protect farmers, farm murders had increased. 'There has been negligence in farm safety. The president has not done much to protect farmers. We are not saying that other murders are less serious. We are just saying that farm attacks must also be prioritised.
