Afriforum, an organization representing Afrikaners in South Africa, is urging the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to dismiss South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide, arguing that South Africa itself has failed to stop genocidal rhetoric at home. The group cites South African opposition leader Julius Malema’s repeated chants of “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer” as clear examples of incitement to genocide—exactly the kind of rhetoric South Africa claims violates the Genocide Convention in its case against Israel.
During a recent meeting in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump presented South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with video footage of Malema leading rallies with these inflammatory chants. While Ramaphosa condemned the speech during his visit to Washington, he has repeatedly refused to denounce it at home, even when asked by reporters in South Africa.
Trump has argued that such speech is a call to genocide, and many in South Africa’s farming communities fear the rhetoric justifies violent attacks against white farmers. Afriforum’s Kallie Kriel noted that Ramaphosa’s refusal to condemn the “Kill the Boer” chant is itself a violation of the Genocide Convention, using the exact legal arguments that South Africa has applied against Israel at the ICJ.
Kriel pointed out the hypocrisy of South Africa’s legal team, highlighting that Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, who represents South Africa at the ICJ, also defended Malema in South African courts, arguing that “Kill the Boer” is not hate speech.
Despite this double standard, South Africa has refused to withdraw its case against Israel. The ICJ recently ruled against South Africa on procedural grounds, granting Israel more time to respond after South Africa withheld evidence. Meanwhile, Malema and his Economic Freedom Fighters continue to use “Kill the Boer” chants at rallies across South Africa.
