The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema was on the stand questioned about the song “kill the boer”. The struggle song has come under fire for inciting violence against white people and Afrikaner people to be specific.
On the stand Malema explained the difference between singing a struggle song and giving a command. A command does not require people to sing but rather gives an instruction to act. He goes on to speak about Shaka Zulu and how he commanded his army to kill abathakathi (witches). He explained how struggle songs were sung during the apartheid era and are still sung even now.
The song under scrutiny is the “Dubula ibhunu” meaning “shoot the boer”. Malema goes on to explain how the struggle songs should not be taken in literal terms. He further explains that the song represents a fight against a system which dispossessed black people from their land.
When questioned about the family who was attacked by alleged EFF supporters, his response was that anyone could attack the family and claim to be EFF supporters. White farmers do not get along and they have been at war with each other.
Malema goes on to explain that if the court instructs him not to sing the liberation song anymore, he will stop. He further warns that by doing so the court would be declare that the movement is driven by hatred. The EFF leader speaks about how he felt when he saw the police enter his home as a child and took of his mother’s blanket as she lied in bed.
The lobby group wants Malema pay R500 000 in damages and to apologise and refrain from singing the song again. Court proceedings will continue today.
Source: Eyewitness News, Daily Maverick, News24 image by Eyewitness News
