You may have heard some news coming out of RSA this last week (it showed up on CNN, anyway), so I figured an explainer was in order.
Eugene Terreblanche founded white supremacist group the AWB in the seventies, whose stated goal was an all white republic within South Africa. In 1993, the AWB attempted to disrupt the reconciliation talks that ended apartheid, both through demonstrations and militarily. After a failed invasion of a black militia’s territory, as well as a prison stint for attacking two black workers, Terreblanche and the AWB faded into the background.
Terreblanche was brutally murdered this weekend on his farm by two black workers. This occurs in the context of a court ruling banning the protest song “Shoot the Boer”. Boer is a derogatory term for Afrikaner (white) farmers. The song is being used by controversial ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president Julius Malema to drum up support for his nationalization plan, which involves seizure of (largely) white owned farms and mines by the government, similar to what happened in Zimbabwe.
While it appears Terreblanche’s murder was over a pay dispute, many argue that the singing of the song has been taken literally. Since 1994, many farmers have been attacked or killed. The ANCYL argues that the song is an important part of their apartheid era protest history, and is not meant to be taken at face value.
While I am generally never in favor of banning speech, Malema’s singing of the song now, in the context of current events, certainly constitutes hate speech. At the very least it is shockingly irresponsible. Though the AWB has vowed revenge for Terreblanche’s killing, I’m not too worried about some race war breaking out. The AWB is a marginalized fringe group, and before he got himself offed I had never heard of Terreblanche.
This all barely scratches the surface of the issue. I haven’t even started with Malema’s other alleged indiscretions, the whites who vow to leave the country if he ever becomes president, or land redistribution. When it comes to race in South Africa, nothing is simple.
Eugene Terreblanche founded white supremacist group the AWB in the seventies, whose stated goal was an all white republic within South Africa. In 1993, the AWB attempted to disrupt the reconciliation talks that ended apartheid, both through demonstrations and militarily. After a failed invasion of a black militia’s territory, as well as a prison stint for attacking two black workers, Terreblanche and the AWB faded into the background.
Terreblanche was brutally murdered this weekend on his farm by two black workers. This occurs in the context of a court ruling banning the protest song “Shoot the Boer”. Boer is a derogatory term for Afrikaner (white) farmers. The song is being used by controversial ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president Julius Malema to drum up support for his nationalization plan, which involves seizure of (largely) white owned farms and mines by the government, similar to what happened in Zimbabwe.
While it appears Terreblanche’s murder was over a pay dispute, many argue that the singing of the song has been taken literally. Since 1994, many farmers have been attacked or killed. The ANCYL argues that the song is an important part of their apartheid era protest history, and is not meant to be taken at face value.
While I am generally never in favor of banning speech, Malema’s singing of the song now, in the context of current events, certainly constitutes hate speech. At the very least it is shockingly irresponsible. Though the AWB has vowed revenge for Terreblanche’s killing, I’m not too worried about some race war breaking out. The AWB is a marginalized fringe group, and before he got himself offed I had never heard of Terreblanche.
This all barely scratches the surface of the issue. I haven’t even started with Malema’s other alleged indiscretions, the whites who vow to leave the country if he ever becomes president, or land redistribution. When it comes to race in South Africa, nothing is simple.
I've not heard of Terreblanche either, but I will be more attentive now. It's hard to imagine all the cultural elements that make up South Africa-- or any of Africa for that matter.
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