AfriForum Youth demands action after “Kill the Boer” echoes on Puk campus

AfriForum Youth requests that the North-West University (NWU) condemn the singing of the “Kill the Boer” chant and publish safety measures that outline how to ensure student safety during protests. This follows the EFF student organisation singing the “Kill the Boer” chant while displaying posters with slogans such as “shoot to kill” and “Kill the Boer” during a protest on the NWU’s Potchefstroom campus yesterday.

This action also disrupted academic activities on campus, with some classes having to be cancelled while others were forced to continue online. Students who did make efforts to attend their classes were prevented from doing so, and students say they felt unsafe and intimidated.

“Singing songs and carrying posters that incite murder and violence is not freedom of speech, it is hate speech. This behaviour creates a climate of fear and threat on campus and is simply unacceptable,” says Yvonne Gerber, Youth Officer for Development at AfriForum.

The youth organisation wrote to the Potchefstroom Campus Registrar, Marlene Verhoef, on 19 September, expressing their concerns about the planned protest. It also asked what safety measures were in place to ensure that students could continue their academic activities safely. Furthermore, the organisation asked what the NWU’s official position was on the singing of chants such as “Kill the Boer’ and what disciplinary steps would be taken if students were found guilty of using these chants.

AfriForum Youth also handed over a petition to Dr. Corrie Rheeder, Director of Student Life on the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus on 11 September this year, requesting that the singing of the “Kill the Boer” chant be banned on campus. This petition was signed by 6 000 supporters.

“The NWU’s silence and lack of accountability are increasing racial and political tensions on campus. If the university does not draw clear boundaries and act now, this could lead to even greater conflict,” says Gerber.

AfriForum Youth today sent a follow-up letter to Verhoef and Rheeder following yesterday’s protest action. In the letter, the youth organization asks, among other things, that the NWU:

• Issue an unequivocal public statement in which the university condemns the “Kill the Boer” chant, hate speech and incitement to violence.
• Announce safety measures that have been put in place to ensure student safety.
• Make clear what disciplinary action will be taken against students and CSC members who were involved in the hate speech and disruption.
• Ensure that students who missed yesterday’s classes are not disadvantaged.

AfriForum Youth gives the NWU 48 hours to respond in writing. If not, AfriForum Youth will be forced to consider further steps.