Industry body the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) has spoken out against Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema’s chanting of anti-Apartheid slogan “kill the boer, kill the farmer” during the political party’s tenth anniversary celebrations at the FNB Stadium over the weekend of July 29.  

Other parties and prominent leaders have also condemned Malema’s chant, which they say incites violence.

Agri SA says the issues that should dominate the thinking of political leaders, business and society at large should be solutions to high unemployment, weak economic growth prospects and rising inequality and poverty.

“Any divisive matter that takes the focus away from rebuilding an inclusive South Africa should be avoided. The weekend events from various political party leaders that called for harm on the farming community are disappointing and are not in the country's interest,” says Agbiz chairperson Francois Strydom.

He adds that these events may destroy the progress that many organisations and businesses have achieved in terms of a common vision and purpose for agriculture in South Africa.

The organisation also believes Malema’s actions are contrary to the wishes of President Cyril Ramaphosa about a social compact that all social partners can support.

Agbiz calls on political leaders across the political spectrum to condemn divisive language and promote the spirit of cooperation.

Opposition political party the Democratic Alliance has said it would file charges against Malema at the United Nations Human Rights Council for chanting the anti-Apartheid slogan “kill the boer, kill the farmer” since it “incites ethnic violence", as well as against the ruling party the African National Congress for its failure to take action against Malema.

Although the Equality Court ruled in August 22 that a prior instance of the EFF chanting “kill the boer” was not hate speech, civil rights organisation AfriForum is challenging this outcome with an appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal on September 4.

The Equality Court ruled that by declaring the song hate speech, it would curtail freedom of expression.

AfriForum believes Malema’s singing of the slogan incites genocide against minorities, including if he sings “shoot to kill”, which political party Freedom Front Plus agrees with, having launched its own criminal case proceedings against Malema and laying a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission.

The EFF has been quoted as saying that the question of “boer” relates to the system of white supremacy being the enemy, and that it does not target any individual on the basis of colour.

During a media briefing on August 2, Malema maintained this sentiment, adding that “young people need to know what [previously disadvantaged people] went through”.

Western Cape Agriculture MEC Dr Ivan Meyer also condemned Malema for chanting the song, saying this rhetoric severely damages the work to strengthen South Africa’s social fabric.

He added farmers do not deserve the “vile sentiments” expressed in the song, especially with farm attacks and murders being a reality in the country.

Meyer shared the same sentiment as Agbiz, in that a collaborative spirit is what political leaders should embrace as part of efforts to rebuild the economy.