When Struggle Songs Turn to War Cries

There is something deeply unsettling about a crowd chanting “Kill the Boer” in a country already overwhelmed by violence. This is not just a song. It is a warning flare in a nation where the fire is already raging.

Consider the facts. South Africa remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world. In 2024 alone, more than 26,000 people were murdered. That works out to about 72 murders every single day.

Most of those victims are Black South Africans. Not white. Not tourists. Not foreign businesspeople. Black. Poor. Forgotten. Gunned down in townships. Stabbed in informal settlements. Killed in homes without protection or security. The violence is not limited to one group. It affects everyone.

Many still defend songs that promote violence against white farmers. Some claim these are historical chants tied to the liberation struggle. That struggle is over. The battlefield has changed. We now live in a democracy, imperfect as it may be.

White South Africans make up only 7.3 percent of the population. Their murder rate is estimated at 3.6 per 100,000. The national average sits closer to 42 per 100,000. Black South Africans face the greatest threat of violence by far.

Any song that calls for harm, no matter who it targets, adds fuel to a fire we are all trying to put out. Past pain cannot be used to justify present hatred.

Violence on farms, whether the victims are white, Black, or coloured, is not just a statistic. It points to something deeper that is broken in our society. More blood will not bring balance.

No one should be singing about murder in a country where thousands are already being killed.

South Africa needs healing. It needs courage. It needs people who are willing to speak out against hatred, no matter the flag, party, or history behind it.