AfriForum to fight ‘Kill the Boer’ ruling on world stage

AfriForum

Cape Town – AfriForum plans to take its legal battle against the “Kill the Boer” chant to international platforms after South Africa’s Constitutional Court rejected its appeal, ruling that the chant is not hate speech.

CEO Kallie Kriel argues that the fight is about Afrikaner dignity and has instructed legal teams to explore options at international courts and the UN while seeking support from foreign governments.

Kriel criticised the judgment as “shocking”, claiming it reflects a radical interpretation of the Constitution and a failure by the government to condemn such slogans.

“This is disrespect for the dignity of Afrikaners, and we have self-respect. We’re not going to take this lying down, and that is why we will fight this with everything we have – also internationally. We’ve already instructed our legal team to look at what platforms there are, what international courts, what sections of the UN to take this further, and then, of course, we’ll also garner support from governments internationally,” he said, according to SABC News.

The group also advocates for legal self-protection for Afrikaners, farmers, and minority groups, the report said. 

Meanwhile, the DA has also condemned the Constitutional Court’s decision warning it could deepen societal divisions.

While the court ruled the song is protected under freedom of expression, the DA argued its impact remains harmful and incites violence rather than serving as a historical reference.

“‘Kill the Boer, kill the farmer’ goes beyond mere words. It incites violence, stokes hatred and deepens divisions in society, the party said in a statement.

“We should be working towards unity and healing and songs such as this only serve to deepen the rifts in our country.”

The DA criticised political figures like  Malema for continuing to chant it and urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to condemn its use.

It warned that the ruling could harm South Africa’s global reputation and called for political leaders to prioritise unity over divisive rhetoric.

“This type of divisive language is not just damaging on a local level, it has international repercussions as well. South Africa’s reputation on the global stage is at risk when such hatred is openly condoned, making our country more vulnerable to external scrutiny. We cannot afford to further polarise our society or undermine the international standing we’ve fought so hard to build,” it said.

The, however,  EFF welcomed the decision, calling AfriForum’s case an attempt to distort history and silence black resistance.

“AfriForum has repeatedly pushed the false narrative of white victimhood in a country where black people continue to suffer the legacy of land dispossession, economic exclusion and systemic oppression at the hands of white minority rule. Their efforts to criminalise a liberation song, one deeply rooted in the fight against the brutal regime that oppressed black people for decades, are part of their broader project to rewrite history, erase their own crimes and paint themselves as victims,” EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said in a statement.

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