South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has clarified that the controversial anti-apartheid chant “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer” should not be interpreted as an incitement to violence, but rather understood within the historical context of the country’s liberation struggle.
His remarks come days after U.S. President Donald Trump presented a video of opposition politician Julius Malema chanting the slogan during a tense meeting at the White House. Trump used the footage to support claims of an alleged campaign of violence against white farmers in South Africa—a narrative long dismissed by local authorities and researchers.
Responding to journalists on Tuesday, Ramaphosa said the government respects existing court rulings that have considered the slogan’s historical and political roots, stating, “It’s not meant to be a message that elicits or calls upon anyone to be killed.”
He reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to constitutional values, including freedom of expression, and rejected suggestions that Malema should be arrested for his use of the chant.
Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has continued using the slogan in public speeches, drawing sharp criticism and calls for it to be banned as hate speech by some groups. In the same video shown by Trump, Malema is also seen declaring that land should be occupied without permission—comments that have stoked controversy amid South Africa’s land reform process.
Trump has cited such remarks in his critique of South Africa’s revised land expropriation law, which includes provisions for “nil compensation” in certain cases. However, Ramaphosa emphasized that these would apply only under exceptional conditions, such as when landowners cannot be traced or the land is needed for the public good.
He also noted that the courts will play a key role in overseeing land expropriation decisions to ensure fairness and prevent abuse.
The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-largest party, has filed a legal challenge against the “nil compensation” clause, arguing that it risks undermining property rights.
Ramaphosa’s comments follow broader diplomatic tensions between South Africa and the U.S., intensified by disagreements over global issues including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and Pretoria’s position within the BRICS alliance.