COSATU opposes banning of struggle song

By Ofentse Mokae
30 March 2010

Congress of South African Trade Unions has expressed its concern at South Gauteng High Court’s ruling to ban the struggle song “Kill the Boer; Kill the farmer”.

The trade union federation says it particularly concerned on Friday’s ruling that words contained in the song are unconstitutional and illegal.

Its spokesman Patrick Craven says they are adamantly opposed to the use of violence, especially deadly violence, including in the course of political struggles.

“Killing political opponents is murder and should be punished with the full severity of the law,” says Craven.

Craven however says they agree fully with the ANC’s argument that the song is part of the historic fight of the people against apartheid, led by the ANC.

“Its words, if interpreted literally could be seen as promoting racial hatred and inciting violence, but such songs evolved in the context of a society where the black majority were disenfranchised at the barrel of a gun by a small white minority and their illegitimate government,” he argues.

Meanwhile Congress of the People has welcomed the ruling.

The party says in its opinion and in the context of post liberation modern society, the song is hate speech.

The opposition party says the argument of the ruling party that this phrase is part of struggle heritage is revisionist.

“The vast majority of the songs of the struggle are hymns and songs of upliftment and solidarity, but such songs do not fit the populist agenda of the ANC in their quest to further divide the people of South Africa,” the party said in a statement.

The ANC has indicted it will appeal the ruling.