AfriForum Youth lays hate speech charge against singer of "shoot the whites"

AfriForum Youth has laid a charge of hate speech at the South Gauteng High Court, sitting as the Equality Court, against Tokelo Nhlapo, a student council member at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) for singing an altered version of the banned "Shoot the Boer" song before Julius Malema arrived to deliver an economic freedom lecture. 

The banned song, "Ayesaba amagwala" was sung with Wits students, but the words "dubula iBhunu" ("Shoot the Boer") were replaced with the words "dubula lekgoa", which mean "shoot the whites".

"Inciting students to sing hate songs is a sign of weak leadership. By singing this song, the students expressed their hate for white people," said Charl Oberholzer, National Chairperson of AfriForum Youth.

On being asked what he had meant by singing the song, Nhlapo, who is also a member of the ANC Youth League, declined to comment. South African Students' Congress (Sasco) Secretary General Lazola Ndamase said that he will continue singing the song himself.

"In order to create a society where all South Africans treat each other with respect, it is necessary to root out polarising behaviour," said Oberholzer.

Meanwhile, Sdumo Dlamini, President of Cosatu, has admitted that the song sounds like hate speech. Wits has launched an investigation into the alleged singing of the banned song on the campus, but no findings have been released yet.

"The reputation of Wits is damaged when scores of its students sing racist songs that incite violence towards white people. Such occurrences are shocking in any society and there is no excuse for such arrogant behaviour," said Oberholzer.

AfriForum Youth is awaiting the date on which the court will hear the matter.

Statement issued by Charl Oberholzer, AfriForum Youth national chairperson, November 17 2011

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