Most South Africans, regardless of race, think that the “Kill the Boer” song is hate speech and should be banned. This insight comes from a Social Research Foundation survey of 805 South Africans conducted in April 2025.

In that survey a question was put to participants: “Which of the following statements below best describes your position with regards to the song Kill the Boer?”

Participants were then given these three statements: “It is irresponsible to sing in South Africa today, where racial tensions are still high, but I do not believe the song constitutes hate speech, nor should it be banned.”

OR

“The song is clearly hate speech, as it calls for direct physical harm, specifically against white Afrikaans farmers, who are being murdered in disproportionate numbers. As such, I believe it should be banned.”

OR

“The song is harmless, it is an old struggle song that should not be taken seriously, those who sing it do not mean it literally and I believe it should be protected under the right to free speech.”

Amongst all South Africans 18% said that it is irresponsible to sing “Kill the Boer”, 57% said that the song was hate speech and should be banned, and 22% said that the song is harmless.

When broken down by race, amongst black South Africans 20% said that it is irresponsible to sing “Kill the Boer”, 50% said that the song was hate speech and should be banned, and 27% said that the song is harmless.

Amongst coloured South Africans 12% said that it is irresponsible to sing “Kill the Boer”, 73% said that the song was hate speech and should be banned, and 16% said that the song is harmless.

Amongst white South Africans 12% said that it is irresponsible to sing “Kill the Boer”, 85% said that the song was hate speech and should be banned, and 1% said that the song is harmless.