South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has firmly rejected the demand by U.S. President Donald Trump to arrest Julius Malema, a prominent opposition politician known for his inflammatory chants of ‘kill the farmer.’ In a statement, Ramaphosa emphasized that South Africa, as a sovereign nation, will not comply with any foreign instructions to detain Malema, who leads the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party. This stance comes despite Trump’s public criticism of Malema’s rhetoric, which the former U.S. president claimed incited violence against farmers.
Malema, who gained notoriety for his slogan during anti-colonial protests in South Africa, recently reiterated the phrase at a rally, prompting concern among critics. While the government asserts that the chant is a historical symbol of resistance and protected under free speech laws, opponents argue that it has fueled a climate of fear and violence, contributing to the country’s high rate of farm attacks. The issue has further intensified tensions between the South African government and the Trump administration, with the U.S. leader accusing the country of genocide against white farmers.
President Ramaphosa, who is part of a coalition government, reaffirmed that South Africa’s legal systems, including the Constitutional Court, have determined that the chant does not constitute a direct call to violence. Still, critics within South Africa, like Ian Cameron of the Democratic Alliance (DA) party, have called for legal action against Malema, emphasizing the need to balance free expression with the prevention of incitement to violence. Cameron highlighted the devastating impact of farm attacks, describing some incidents as resembling ‘abattoirs,’ and argued that the government must take decisive action to protect citizens.
Despite these calls, Malema has remained defiant, stating he will continue to chant the slogan as a symbol of resistance. The situation underscores the complex interplay of freedom of expression, historical narrative, and the ongoing challenges of maintaining law and order in South Africa. With no clear resolution anticipated, the dispute continues to generate significant domestic and international attention.