A new national survey has revealed that most South Africans view the controversial song ‘Kill the Boer’ as hate speech, challenging narratives that suggest it is broadly accepted as a liberation anthem.
Commissioned by the Social Research Foundation (SRF) and conducted by Victory Research, the survey explores public perceptions of free speech, hate speech, and the contentious struggle-era song. Gareth van Onselen, CEO of Victory Research, who led the analysis of the results, said the aim was to “fill something of a vacuum” on an issue that generates intense public debate but little substantive data.
“As far as I am aware, it is the first substantive piece of dedicated research on this subject,” said Van Onselen. “That in and of itself is important.”
Free speech: highly valued, but with limits
The survey, encompassing 805 South African adults, revealed that a substantial majority (81%) consider free speech to be "very" or "somewhat" important.
However, when asked what free speech actually means, 82% said it “does not include causing offence to others.”
Van Onselen noted that this reveals a core tension in the public’s understanding of free speech.
He said:
The question becomes, what do people mean by free speech? Is there a shared understanding?
He pointed out that when respondents were asked to consider the practical implications of policing offence, 62% still said that free speech should protect people’s feelings—indicating a strong lean toward protecting emotional well-being over unfiltered expression.
Mixed views on hate speech
The survey shows that public opinion is almost evenly divided on the current legal definition of hate speech.
The question asked was : “do you agree or disagree that if a person promotes hatred against a racial or ethnic group and encourages harm against them, this is hate speech and should be protected as free speech?”
While 53.4% agreed with the latest legal interpretations from South African courts, 46.4% disagreed.
Among White and Coloured respondents, agreement with the courts was higher at 80% and 65%, respectively, while 47% of black respondents expressed disagreement. Van Onselen described this as the first “statistically significant split” in the data.
On what kinds of speech should be classified as hate speech, most respondents agreed with five out of six examples presented, such as “racism, insulting religious belief, homophobia or bigotry, among others” though coloured and white respondents were consistently more likely to label these examples as hate speech.
Interestingly, women were also more inclined than men to agree that offensive statements should be criminalised.
READ: Mondli Makhanya | Just drop that blerry song, Malema, it serves nobody
Appetite for censorship
Respondents were asked how they would personally respond if offended. The findings showed a significant preference for censorship, with 41.6% opting for action such as banning someone from speaking, reporting them to their employer, or asking state institutions to investigate.
This view was especially strong among EFF (50.5%) and MK Party (58.2%) supporters.
Van Onselen said:
There is a significant appetite for censorship. And it is particularly high among certain political constituencies.
By contrast, a majority of White South Africans (56.6%) preferred “personal action,” such as arguing back or tolerating the comment.
‘Kill the Boer’: seen as hate speech
When turning to the Kill the Boer song specifically, Van Onselen said 80% of South Africans surveyed were aware of it. Among those who were, more than half—53%—said the song constitutes “clear hate speech.”
This figure was even higher among Indian (93%), White (85%) and Coloured (73%) respondents. Half of Black respondents shared this view.
Perhaps most notably, 57% of EFF supporters said the song is hate speech, and another 26% described it as “irresponsible.” Van Onselen called this “a remarkable finding.”
“A total of 83% of EFF supporters felt the song is either irresponsible or hate speech,” he said.
Why Does Malema Sing It?
The survey also probed public opinion on EFF leader Julius Malema’s motivation for singing Kill the Boer. Respondents were divided:
- 27% believe he is celebrating an old struggle song,
- 24% say he’s being deliberately provocative,
- 21% view it as a protest against ANC land failures, and
- 22% believe Malema “literally wants people to go out and kill white Afrikaans farmers."
- Just 2% of EFF supporters subscribe to the latter interpretation, compared to 80% of FF+ supporters.
Should Ramaphosa condemn the song?
A solid 64% of respondents who are aware of the song said President Cyril Ramaphosa should publicly condemn Malema’s singing of it. Support for condemnation came from 66% of ANC supporters, 80% of DA supporters, and even 33% of EFF voters.
READ: Julius Malema | EFF will never surrender black people's stolen birthright
Is there a link to violence?
A nearly even split emerged when respondents were asked if they believed Malema’s singing of the song is linked to attacks on white Afrikaner farmers. Among those aware of the song, 49% said yes, while 46% said no.
“It is important to remember this measures only whether people think there is a link, not whether there actually is one,” Van Onselen noted.
Awareness of court rulings
The survey also found that most South Africans are unaware of the Constitutional Court’s ruling that
Kill the Boer does not constitute hate speech. Awareness was highest among White respondents (62%) and FF+ supporters (78%).
When presented with anonymous statements by various political parties in response to the ruling, the DA’s position received the strongest support, with 67% of respondents agreeing with it.
Van Onselen said what was even more revealing was that 49% of EFF supporters strongly agreed with the DA’s position, which was more than those who strongly agreed with the EFF’s own stance (35%).
“There are some fascinating cross-party dynamics in how people respond when they’re not told which party said what,” Van Onselen observed.
The SRF’s latest survey offers the clearest picture yet of how ordinary South Africans view free speech, hate speech, and Kill the Boer. While many embrace the idea of freedom of expression, most also believe it should be exercised without causing offence. The song remains divisive, condemned by the majority, including many EFF supporters, according to Van Onselen.
“There are many things to unpack but one thing is clear: the public’s view is far more complex and less ideological than many assume,” said Van Onselen.
Survey Methodology:
- Sample Size: 805 adults
- Method: Random Digit Dialling
- Dates: 8–16 April 2025
- Margin of Error: 3.5%
- Confidence Level: 95%
- Commissioned by: Social Research Foundation
- Conducted by: Victory Research
