Genocide Watch

South Africa

Genocide Watch returns South Africa to stage 5 “polarization” on its Countries at Risk Chart
By Genocide Watch
2 February 2012

After upgrading South Africa to stage 6 “preparation” in September 2011 due to the increasing power of Julius Malema, then the Marxist racist President of the African National Congress Youth League, two quite significant developments have occurred.  The first was a South African court’s ruling that Malema’s singing of the “Shoot the Boer” song constitutes “hate speech” in violation of South African law.  The court issued an injunction prohibiting Malema from singing the song.  The second development is the suspension of Julius Malema from the African National Congress (ANC) and his removal as President of the ANC Youth League.

Stage 5 of the eight stages of genocide is “polarization”. Given the history of Apartheid in South Africa, there is deep-rooted polarization between whites and black in the nation. Part of the polarization in South Africa is the legacy of Apartheid and the continuing dominance in the economy of white owned businesses and farms.  There is also polarization from the black population, who feel excluded from real power and jobs, even though the ANC now controls the government. 

A response to this black polarization was Julius Malema’s call for redistribution of wealth from the white population to the black population, which Malema claimed to be a “correction of the injustices of Apartheid.” The current socio-economical inequalities in South Africa are leading to an increasing, rather than decreasing polarization. Since poverty and unemployment among black youth remains, tensions between impoverished blacks and wealthier whites is likely to increase.

This general polarization, which is normally non-violent, created a fertile ground for political radicalization. That was the case with the rise of Malema, former President of the ANC Youth League, when he and his followers sang the old anti-Boer song: “Kill the Boer” at rallies of the Youth League. Malema called for expropriation of white owned land when he was in Zimbabwe visiting Robert Mugabe and called Botswana’s racially harmonious society “neo-colonial”. These practices of Malema, and the slowness of the leadership of the ANC to discipline him, made Genocide Watch upgrade South Africa to stage 6 in September 2011. But now that Malema has been removed from his position of growing power, Genocide Watch is returning South Africa to stage 5.

It is very important to note that downgrading Genocide Watch’s risk assessment, does not mean that the situation is safe now in South Africa.  Unfortunately, we still think Malema has a large following among unemployed youth, and tensions between black and white people are still high.

Genocide Watch continues to be alarmed at hate crimes committed against whites, particularly against Boer farmers, an important early warning sign that genocide could occur.  Those who commit such crimes must be promptly brought to justice, and denounced by the political leaders of South Africa.  Genocide Watch’s first six stages do not constitute genocide.  Genocide Watch does not believe that genocide is currently underway in South Africa.  Nevertheless, Genocide Watch will keep a watchful eye on the situation.

Updates

11 November 2011 "South African Official Barred", by Devon Maylie, The Wall Street Journal

23 September 2011 "Re-racialising South Africa's politics," by David Africa, Al Jazeera English

20 September 2011 "Cosatu leader defies song ban - again," by SAPA

16 September 2011 "Info bill unsafe for democracy - Sanef," by SAPA

15 September 2011 “Malema among Africa’s most powerful young men: Forbes,” by Sapa, Timeslive

15 September 2011 "Is Julius Malema South Africa's president in waiting?" by Justice Malala, The Guardian

15 September 2011 "Genocide Watch upgrades SA to Stage 6 - Preparation on Countries at Risk Chart," by Genocide Watch

14 September 2011 "ANCYL to appeal hate speech ruling," by SAPA

12 September 2011 "Crowd sings 'shoot the boer' at court," by SAPA

12 September 2011 "Words can trigger genocide - Malema judge," by SAPA

10 September 2011 "Malema declares economic war," by SAPA

30 August 2011 "Julius Malema supporters clash with South Africa police," by BBC News

23 August 2011 "'We can't be seen to be weak': Mantashe takes aim at Malema," by Nicholaus Bauer, Mail & Guardian Online

19 August 2011 "ANC charges Malema with misconduct," by News24

17 August 2011 "Face-off at Free State University," by News24

01 August 2011 “AfriForum goes to court over youth training,” by Sapa

4 July 2011 "Two arrested after murder on Gauteng farm," Johnnesburg Sunday Times

30 April 2011 "Separating free speech from hate in South Africa," by Celia W. Dugger, The New York Times

21 February 2011 "How Malema made his millions," by Buddy Naidu and Simpiwe Piliso, The Sunday Times

11 December 2010 "He Is Going to Die in Prison," by Kashiefa Ajam and Noni Mokati, OIL

30 October 2010 "Malema calls Zilla a cockroach," by SAPA

24 August 2010 "Gov't says genocide claims 'ludicrous'," by Jenni O'Grady, Mail & Guardian

21 July 2010 "Soccer against xenophobia," by iAfrica.com

20 July 2010 "Foreigners injured in xenophobia clashes," by BBC News

16 July 2010 "Xenophobia: SA to call in UN," by Hlengiwe Mnguni, News24

16 July 2010 "Mthethwa's xenophobia denial 'doesn't help victims'," by Times LIVE

15 July 2010 "Residents urge foreigners to return," by Natasha Prince and Nurene Jassiem, The Cape Argus

13 July 2010 "South Africa: Xenophobia bad for business," by Pete Luhanga, West Cape News

12 July 2010 "Buitelanders skuil by polisiestasies," by Nuu24, SAPA

12 July 2010 "Cops move to protect foreign nationals," by Reuters

10 July 2010 "Time and date set for Cape violence," by The Star

10 June 2010 "South Africa braces for new attacks on immigrants," by Barry Bearak, The New York Times

10 June 2010 "Massive security to watch over World Cup soccer play," by Geoff Hill, The Washington Times

8 June 2010 "Malema may face Hague genocide charge," by South African Press Association

5 June 2010 "Post World Cup xenophobic attacks and farm invasions: South Africa on the brink," by South African Press Association

26 May 2010 "Can the World Cup bridge South Africa's sporting divide?" by Farouk Chothia, BBC News

11 May 2010 "South African Youth Leader is given mild punishment after series of gaffes," by Barry Bearak, The New York Times

7 May 2010 "An open letter to Dr. David Duke," by Dr. Gregory Stanton, President, Genocide Watch

4 May 2010 "South African leader accused of racism," by Geoff Hill, The Washington Times

3 May 2010 "Be militant, senior ANC official tells youth," by Sinegugu Ndlovu, The Mercury

2 May 2010 "South African government officials say white crime victims are to blame for racist attacks on them," by EU Times Online

1 May 2010 "Malema pulls out race card again," by News24.com

29 April 2010 "Media Relase: Black and white racism- Extract from speech by Potchefstroom (Freedom)," by Dr. Pieter Mulder

27 April 2010 "Swart en wit rassisme - uittreksel uit toespraak op Potchefstroom (Freedom)," by Dr. Pieter Mulder

23 April 2010 "Protest over 'genocide' in SA," by South African Press Association (SAPA)

20 April 2010 "ANC will not discipline Malema," by Reuters

17 April 2010 "Gang attack family, dad killed," by South African Press Association (SAPA)

17 April 2010 "Malema: This land belongs to foreigners," by South African Press Association (SAPA)

16 April 2010 "Press Release on the Ramifications of the Killing of Eugene Terre'Blanche," by the South African Institute of Race Relations

4 April 2010 "Malema lauds Mugabe, says SA will copy Zimbabwe's land seizures," by Sunday Times

11 March 2010 "ANC defends 'Kill the Boer' song," by South African Press Association (SAPA)

February 2010 "Blurring transitional justice in Orania and Pailin," by Kyle Delbyck, Documentation Center of Cambodia

12 January 2010 "Somalis' Shops Looted in Western Cape," by Cape Times

December 2009 "Violence, Labor, and the Displacement of Zimbabweans in De Doorns, Western Cape," by Forced Migration Studies Program, University of the Witwatersrand

21 December 2009 "Rising Anger at Other Africans Fuels South Africa Attacks," by Celia W. Dugger, The New York Times

17 November 2009 "South Africa Is Divided on Gesture by Educator," By Barry Bearak, The New York Times

1 August 2009 "Tracking Africa's people smugglers," by Brian Hungwe, BBC News

23 July 2009 "South Africa will not tolerate violent protests: minister," by Marius Bosch, Reuters

20 July 2009 "South Africa is seen to lag in HIV fight," by Celia W. Dugger, The New York Times

17 June 2009 "Quarter of men in South Africa admit rape, survey finds," by The Guardian UK

2 June 2009 "Should Women Fear a Zuma Presidency? Maybe Not," by Liesl Gerntholtz, Human Rights Watch

8 May 2009 "One Year Later- More Action Needed to Prevent Further Violence and Xenophobia," by The Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA)

16 April 2009 "Land Grab Spreads to South Africa as Mob Seizes Farm," by Johnathan Clayton, Times Online

30 March 2009 "The Perfect Storm," by Jonathan Crush

6 October 2008 "Post-Apartheid South Africa Enters Anxious Era," by Barry Bearak, The New York Times

26 September 2008 "Homosexuality in South Africa," by Eric Beauchemin, Radio Netherlands Worldwide

13 July 2008 "South Africa Crucial to Zimbabwe," by The Associated Press

20 June 2008 "Chinese Gain Right to Benefits for the Discriminated," by Agence France-Presse

19 June 2008 "Grant Temporary Status to All Zimbabweans," by Human Rights Watch

19 June 2008 "South African Leader Visits Mugabe Amid Election Turmoil," by Celia W. Dugger and Alan Cowell

5 June 2008 "Protect Victims of Xenophobic Violence," by Human Rights Watch

2 June 2008 "Relocation process exacerbates trauma of displaced people in South Africa," by Medecins Sans Frontieres

31 May 2008 "Attacks on Immigrants Decline," by Celia W. Dugger, The New York Times

30 May 2008 "UNHCR releases 2,000 more tents for South Africa xenophobia victims," by UNHCR

30 May 2008 "South Africa Plans Shelters for Foreigners Who Fled Attacks," by Celia W. Dugger, The New York Times

30 May 2008 "South Africa Approves Refugee Plan," by Celia W. Dugger, The New York Times

29 May 2008 "South Africa Weighs Plan to Shelter Refugees," by Celia W. Dugger and Alan Cowell, The New York Times

28 May 2008 "Notorious White Dorm Converted Into Diversity Center," by Celia W. Dugger, The New York Times

27 May 2008 "Amid Broken Dreams, Poverty Breeds Hatred," by Craig Timberg, The Washington Post

26 May 2008 "Mbeki Calls Harm to Migrants a Disgrace," by Barry Bearak, The New York Times

26 May 2008 "Death toll climbs in SA violence," by BBC News

24 May 2008 "Mozambique Fears 'Exodus' From Violence in South Africa," by The Associated Press

23 May 2008 "South Africa says apartheid-era foes fan violence," by Wendell Roelf, Reuters

23 May 2008 "Immigrants Fleeing Fury of South African Mobs," by Barry Bearak, The New York Times

21 May 2008 "Effort to End Attacks," by Reuters

20 May 2008 "South Africans Fear Backlash of Violence," by Craig Timberg, The Washington Post

20 May 2008 "South Africans Take Out Rage on Immigrants," by Barry Bearak and Celia W. Dugger, The New York Times

17 May 2008 "Trial Delay for Zuma," by Celia W. Dugger

14 March 2008 "In South Africa, Crime Is Child's Play," by Barry Bearak, The New York

1 February 2008 "Zimbabweans' Shelter Raided," by AP, The New York Times

29 December 2007 "Zuma Corruption Charges Revived," by Michael Wines, The New York Times

22 December 2007 "Mbeki Plans to Stay in Office," by Michael Wines, The New York Times

21 December 2007 "Prosecutor Says Zuma Charges Near," by Michael Wines and Graham Bowley, The New York Times

20 December 2007 "Survivor Is Poised to Lead South Africa," by Michael Wines, The New York Times

19 December 2007 "Zuma Is Chosen to Lead A.N.C.," by Michael Wines, The New York Times

9 November 2007 "U.S. Says South Africa Impedes U.N. Motion to Condemn Rape as a Tactic," by Warren Hoge, New York Times.

22 August 2003 "Farmers tortured and murdered due to "racial hatred" - farm attack official investigation report," by Genocide Watch

2002 "Over 1000 Boer Farmers In South Africa Have Been Murdered Since 1991," by Genocide Watch