Double Standard? AfriForum slams Ramaphosa over ‘kill boer’ silence

AfriForum has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of violating United Nations Genocide Convention by refusing to condemn “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer” chant.

The civil rights group argues that Ramaphosa failure to act against Julius Malema for using the phrase mirrors South Africa own legal stance on genocide, presented earlier this year at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel.

US President Donald Trump questioned President Ramaphosa about why Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema had not been arrested for singing song.

Ramaphosa clarified that singing the “Kill the Boer” song constitutes constitutionally protected speech, and thus no arrests would occur.

During a meeting in Oval Office in Washington recently, United States (US) President Donald Trump asked President Ramaphosa why Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has not been arrested for singing the song.

President Ramaphosa said that no one would be arrested for singing the “Kill the Boer” song, citing its constitutionally protected speech.

In January 2024, South Africa’s legal advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi argued at the ICJ that a government refusal to condemn genocidal rhetoric—like Israel alleged inaction—constitutes grave breach of the UN convention.

Ngcukaitobi stressed that such silence normalises violence and endangers targeted groups.

AfriForum now applies this same logic to Ramaphosa response, labeling it hypocritical.

Kallie Kriel, AfriForum’s CEO, highlighted the government “double standards.”

He noted that while South Africa condemns similar slogans abroad as genocidal, it defends the “Kill the Boer” chant domestically.

Kriel also criticised officials for downplaying farm murders amid international scrutiny, including recent comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Instead of addressing victims’ suffering, he said, the state focuses on “semantic debates” about terminology.

The UN Genocide Convention emphasises intent—not death tolls—as the threshold for violations. AfriForum asserts that Ramaphosa silence, coupled with ongoing farm attacks and the slogan psychological harm, demonstrates clear intent to endanger Afrikaners.

Kriel added: “The government inaction brands it a violator of its own standards.”