Cape Town – The EFF has reportedly said the DA can go to hell with its action against its party leader, Julius Malema, over his chanting of “Kill the boer, kill the farmer” during the red berets’ 10th-anniversary celebrations on Saturday.
The DA said on Monday it plans to file charges against Malema at the United Nations Human Rights Council for using the anti-apartheid slogan.
“He (Malema) is intent on igniting a civil war that so many South Africans worked and sacrificed to avert in 1994. But the DA will not let him succeed…,” DA leader John Steenhuisen said.
DA leader John Steenhuisen says by singing the “kill the Boer” song at the #EFF10thAnniversary celebration, EFF leader Julius Malema is intent on igniting a civil war in SA, hence the DA is filing charges against Malema and the ANC-led government at the UN Human Rights Council. pic.twitter.com/1K9tTtYDSM
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 31, 2023
He added: “Julius Malema told us exactly who he is & it’s time we believe him. For far too long people in government, the media, civil society & constitutional institutions have refused to acknowledge Malema for the blood-thirsty tyrant & demagogue that he really is.”
Steenhuisen also called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to take action against the EFF.
However, the EFF’s national spokesperson, Sinawo Tambo, responded that the Equality Court has already ruled that the chant does not constitute hate speech, EWN said.
Tambo further said that his party does not take the DA’s actions seriously and believes that the DA and the ANC are similar in their approach.
“I don’t think there’s a difference between the DA and the ANC so if Cyril Ramaphosa attempts to take action against the eff for commemorating South Africa’s liberation struggle, we won’t be shocked. The DA and the ANC are one and the same. We’re not even taking it seriously, we’re still in a celebratory mood,” the report quoted him as saying.
According to IOL, the Equality Court in Johannesburg ruled in August last year that the song was not hate speech or incitement, after AfriForum took the matter to court.
The court held that the song was freedom of speech and had to be left in the political arena.
The court said the lyrics of the song – “Shoot to kill, kill the Boer, kill the farmer” – were not to be taken literally, said the report.
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Picture: Twitter/@Steenhuisen
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu