Former president Thabo Mbeki has defended the controversial chant ‘Kill the Boer’, popularised by EFF leader Julius Malema, saying it is a symbolic chant from the anti-apartheid era and not a literal call to violence.
In an SABC interview, Mbeki explained that such chants are cultural expressions meant to motivate, not incite harm, and were never endorsed by the ANC as targeting civilians.
‘It’s unchanged. I mean, that thing is a chant. It was a chant during the days of struggle… Chants of that kind in our tradition, in the African tradition, you don’t take them literally,’ Mbeki said.
Thabo Mbeki on the Kill the Boer Kill the Farmer chant. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/TKwSmsCukT
— Sophie Mokoena (@Sophie_Mokoena) May 25, 2025
The chant, and Malema’s continued use of it, recently drew criticism from US President Donald Trump, who urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to arrest Malema, citing supposed threats to white farmers.
Malema rejected Trump’s accusations of ‘white genocide’, affirming that the chant is protected by South Africa’s Constitution.
The Constitutional Court also dismissed a case by AfriForum seeking to ban the chant, ruling it had no legal merit.
Malema reiterated the song’s historical significance at a rally in the Free State over the weekend, asserting that South Africa is a constitutional democracy and that court rulings must be respected.
‘It is not my song. I did not compose this song,’ Malema said in televised comments. ‘The struggle heroes composed this song. All I am doing it to defend the legacy of our struggle.’
‘Therefore I will never stop singing the song,’ he said. ‘That will be a betrayal to the struggle of our people.’
Donald Trump, Cyril and Elon have been properly addressed today by the honourable Julius Malema. pic.twitter.com/TSDf0AhT4u
— m a s h è s h a ? (@_mashesha) May 25, 2025
Also read:
Watch: ‘I’ll never stop singing Kill the Boer’ – Malema defiant after Trump showdown
Picture: @Mphothegreatest / X
Words: African Insider
