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President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cold reaction and refusal to condemn “Kill the Boer” show that he gives his unspoken approval to calls for violence against Afrikaners and other targeted minorities. This is Kallie Kriel’s, CEO of AfriForum, response to Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for the Presidency’s statements to Netwerk24 yesterday. Magwenya maintained, among other things, that Ramaphosa will not condemn the “Kill the Boer” chant. 

The chant caused controversy again this past week after US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said on X on Monday that “Kill the Boer” is a “chant that incites violence” and that “South Africa’s leaders and politicians must take action to protect Afrikaners and other disfavored minorities”. AfriForum also wrote a letter to Ramaphosa earlier this week urging the President to strongly condemn the chant. Julius Malema, leader of the EFF, and members of this party chanted “Kill the Boer” again last week during a Human Rights Day rally.

“The President is apparently treating AfriForum’s latest letter and request to him with contempt. He also treated our previous letters to him with the same contempt. This confirms once again that the President was dishonest when he stated that he wanted to discuss and solve South Africa’s problems locally,” says Kriel.

According to Ernst van Zyl, Head of Public Relations at AfriForum, the President’s jab at minorities proves that he is more concerned about not upsetting the EFF than he is about offering reassurance to minority communities that have legitimate concerns and fears.

Issued by AfriForum