South African court to rule on "shoot the farmer" song

Sep 12, 2011, 8:21 GMT

Johannesburg - South Africa's High Court was set to hand down a verdict later on Monday, ruling on whether the song 'shoot the farmer' constitutes hate speech.

The Zulu-language song, Dubul' Ibhunu, dates back to the struggle against the racist apartheid regime that ruled South Africa until the dawn of democracy in 1994.

An Afrikaner civil rights group filed a suit against Julius Malema, the president of the ruling African National Congress' (ANC) Youth League, after he sang the song on several occasions. The group charges that the song incites violence against white farmers.

Malema, who wields influence but no formal power, says the song is a legitimate part of the country's heritage, and does not incite racial hatred.

The youth league president is also facing trouble on another front, as the ANC holds a disiplimary hearing for him. Malema and fellow leaders of his league are accused by the party's top brass of sowing divisions within the ANC ranks and bringing it into 'disrepute.'

If the party committee rules against him, Malema faces suspension or expulsion. The hearing comes after he said the government in neighbouring Botswana was 'a serious threat to Africa' and called for regime change.

The business sector has also been startled by Malema's continued calls for nationalizing the country's mines.

This is Malema's second internal party hearing. He already was found guilty once in court of hate speech, for saying a woman who alleged now-President Jacob Zuma raped her had had a 'nice time' thereby.