Julius Malema calls for Donovan Marx attack suspects to be found and edits ‘Kill the Boer’ chant

EFF leader Julius Malema has addressed the brutal attack on North West farmer Donovan Marx, condemning the violence while defending the controversial struggle song commonly known as “Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer”.

Malema made the remarks during an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) rally at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday, 31 October.

The chant ‘Kill The Boer, Kill The Farmer’ was never meant in a literal sense. The killings in the farms and of farmers must stop and must stop now.

He insisted that the EFF had never called for the literal killing of farmers and rejected the suggestion that the party promoted violence against white or black farming communities. Malema also defended the controversial “Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer” chant, arguing that it was a historical liberation song and was never intended as a literal instruction to kill people. He questioned how the country could target the people responsible for producing food and contributing to the agricultural sector. Malema also directed criticism at the police, demanding that those responsible for the attack be identified and arrested.

Footage from the Orlando Stadium rally has also attracted attention because of the manner in which Malema led supporters in song following his speech. While the controversial “Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer” chant was discussed and defended during his address, footage shows Malema singing a different verse, omitting the words “Kill the Boer”. The alternative verse included lyrics translated as: “Even then shoot us, arrest us, we keep going. It’s hard, but we keep going.”