Twits on social media continue to cause a commotion by posting controversial and sensitive slogans. Does Social Media give people an occasion to express outright distasteful and spiteful words simply because it is easy? It is easy to post a remark and hide behind the barrier of the internet; it is not so easy to hide when done so in person. Slogans such as “Whites are thieves, We are at war with whites, Kill the Boer, Kill the farmer# one settler one bullet, one bullet one settler” and many more hateful words.
Chanting such slogans is inciting racial hatred and a deep desire to stir up dissension. People who cannot let go of the past and move forward. The song “Kill the Boer” was sung by the president of the African National Congress (ANC) Jacob Zuma, Julius Malema and others who have considered that there was nothing wrong with the words, it’s just a chant, a song.
Using a platform and singing those words to millions of uneducated, frustrated and often disillusioned people is dangerous. There are a history and many documented articles regarding “Kill the Boer” song. Leading to court cases and apologies, however, this constitutes Hate Speech.
The question regarding the renewal of chanting this slogan is whether the people, including leaders, use this to cover up the critical problems and failure to address the pressing issues of corruption, crime, failing education and medical infrastructures. It is evident that the hatred can be attributed to a racial basis, and politicians or populists alike will exploit these sensitive issues for their ends.
South Africans are not stupid people yet open to manipulation. The majority have a staunch support of the ANC organisation yet would support any organisation that held their objections at heart. Right now it is the ANC that holds the objectives of the people and even though Malema joins the manipulation, trying to exploit the crowds, it is the sensitive ones who do not stop the unnecessary hate speech. Rather they sing along, agreeing that there is a need for change, not necessarily agreeing with the chant. It is by stopping the song completely that more credence is given to Malema and ilk who would probably say, “see they are still stuck in the past.”
If the ANC, Malema and others claim a right to sing this song based on the history and heritage, then I would like to know why they are in the process of destroying our history and culture with name changes, and pulling down of statues. I believe the Afrikaans people do not find the song, hurtful, but rather find the song as a matter of incitement to commit violence against the Afrikaner. South Africa needs stability and peace.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
