Race relations in South Africa have been strained for much of the nation's recent history. In recent weeks, the United States has become somewhat involved, inviting white South Africans to the US as refugees. How should Christians view the current situation in South Africa and the political discourse surrounding it?
One of the biggest international stories making headlines in United States news right now is the racial climate in South Africa.
The history of racial disunity in the country is extensive. For many decades, the white minority held a disproportionate amount of political power in South Africa's Apartheid system, and legislation from the government often worked against the black majority. Long-time revolutionary (and eventual president) Nelson Mandela fought against Apartheid, and the nation moved away from the prejudicial system.
Today, racial unease remains, but it is the white minority that fears persecution. Political rhetoric surrounding this, as with most things in modern society, is split.
Below, we will discuss some objective truths about the issue in South Africa before examining what the US's political right and political left have to say on the topic. Then, we will look to see what the Bible teaches that should influence a Christian's worldview as it pertains to this sensitive topic.
Some Facts about South Africa's "Kill the Boer" Problem
The song "Kill the Boer" is one of the biggest talking points regarding the race issues in South Africa. Below are some notes about the song and about the current situation for white farmers and Afrikaners.
- "Kill the Boer" has been sung in South Africa for years. The song, typically sung by native black South Africans about white South Africans (especially Afrikaners, AKA "Boers" or farmers), began as a revolutionary anthem and was popularized in the early 1990s near the end of the nation's Apartheid era. Many claim that it is completely symbolic and doesn't promote ethnic violence. Others disagree.
- In 2002-2003 and 2010-2011 court cases, "Kill the Boer" was designated as hate speech in South Africa. In 2022, the court decision that labeled the song as hate speech was reversed. The decision to remove that label was upheld in 2024.
- "Boer" specifically labels Afrikaners of Dutch descent; however, the phrase is sometimes used to include any white South Africans, regardless of lineage. The word translates to "farmer" because of the primary historical occupation of many within the demographic.
- Earlier in May, President Donald Trump met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House. Ramaphosa vehemently denied Trump's claims of a "white genocide" and, while he acknowledged some racial hostility within one political party, he called it a "small minority" that doesn't reflect his government or policies.
- Statistics regarding violence in South Africa are inconsistent. Per the African Institute for Security Studies, over the last 15 years, the per-capita murder rate in South Africa has risen significantly across the board, giving the nation a murder rate up to seven times larger than the world average. According to the South African Police Service, a government agency, there were over 26,000 murders in the country in 2024. Of those, just 44 of the deceased were from farming communities. There were 50 similar murders in 2023. That is 94 too many over the past two years, but it is still far under 1% of the country's overall slayings.