South Africa’s Ramaphosa Defies Trump’s Call to Arrest Malema Over ‘Kill the Farmer’ Chant

JOHANNESBURG – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sharply rebuffed U.S. President Donald Trump’s call to arrest opposition leader Julius Malema for chanting the controversial phrase "kill the farmer" at a recent rally. The fiery exchange underscores deep tensions over free speech, historical grievances, and violent crime in South Africa.

Last week, Trump confronted Ramaphosa with a video of Malema, head of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), chanting the slogan during a meeting in the White House. Trump insisted Malema face arrest for inciting violence. Undeterred, Malema doubled down at a Sunday rally in South Africa’s Free State, leading thousands in chanting, "Shoot to kill. Kill the Boer, the farmer." The term "Boer" refers to Afrikaner descendants of Dutch settlers.

Ramaphosa, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, dismissed Trump’s demand, emphasizing South Africa’s sovereignty. "We don’t need instructions from anyone to arrest anyone," he said, citing a 2022 Constitutional Court ruling that deemed the chant a historical liberation slogan, not a literal call to violence. Critics, however, note Malema’s role on the Judicial Services Commission, which appoints judges, raising questions about judicial impartiality.

The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of brutal farm attacks in South Africa, which have claimed both Black and White victims. Ian Cameron, a senior figure in the Democratic Alliance (DA) and part of the government’s coalition, condemned Malema’s rhetoric. "This chant inflames hatred and division," Cameron told WTFNewsRoom. "It fuels uniquely brutal farm attacks, with scenes of torture that haunt you—like fingernail marks scratched into carpets." He called for legal accountability, arguing that free speech doesn’t shield incitement.

Malema, whose EFF garnered nearly 10% of votes in last May’s election, remains defiant, vowing to sing the chant whenever he pleases. Ramaphosa, meanwhile, defended free expression as a cornerstone of South Africa’s democracy, rejecting arrests "willy-nilly." The clash reveals a nation grappling with its past and present, where words carry the weight of history.