Tuesday May 27, 2025|
United States, US President Donald Trump has reignited controversy over South Africa’s land reform policies, referencing an apartheid-era chant during a tense exchange with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Trump, who has previously made unsubstantiated claims about white genocide in South Africa, aired a video of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema chanting “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer” — a slogan rooted in the country’s liberation struggle.
The chant, often associated with the anti-apartheid era, has sparked outrage in recent years due to its perceived violent connotations. However, President Ramaphosa responded firmly, stating the phrase must be viewed within its historical and political context.
“It’s not meant to be a message that elicits or calls upon anyone to be killed,” Ramaphosa clarified during a media briefing. “We are a country where freedom of expression is in the bedrock of our constitutional arrangements.”
Trump criticized South Africa’s opposition leadership, mistakenly identifying Malema as a government official, and questioned why he had not been arrested for incitement. The U.S. leader further expressed concern over South Africa’s land expropriation bill, warning that it could lead to the seizure of white-owned farms.
The controversial legislation includes a clause allowing “nil compensation” in specific cases — a provision that has drawn domestic and international scrutiny. President Ramaphosa emphasized that the clause would only apply in narrowly defined circumstances, such as when owners cannot be found or land is abandoned and needed for public interest.
“Expropriation without compensation will be subject to judicial oversight to ensure fairness and constitutionality,” Ramaphosa said, pushing back against fears of arbitrary land grabs.
Malema, known for his populist rhetoric and radical economic stance, has remained unapologetic. In the clip presented by Trump, Malema is seen declaring, “We are going to occupy land, we require no permission,” intensifying fears about illegal land invasions.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s second-largest party in the current government of national unity, has mounted a legal challenge to the expropriation clause, arguing that it is vulnerable to abuse and could destabilize property rights.
The incident underscores the complex intersections of historical injustice, political rhetoric, and international misunderstanding surrounding South Africa’s ongoing efforts to redress centuries of racial land inequality.
