Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter and South African entrepreneur, has expressed displeasure with The New York Times on social media.
Musk’s criticism came in response to an article published by the newspaper that appeared to endorse a politically charged song from South Africa that many interpret as advocating violence against white farmers.
The song, “Kill the Boer” (Kill the white farmer), is a campaign slogan for Julius Malema, a member of the South African parliament and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, a political party.
During a recent party celebration, nearly 100,000 supporters joined Malema in singing the song, which contains the lyrics, “Shoot to kill, kill the boer, kill the white farmer”.
(South Africa’s Pan-Africanist political party chants “Shoot to kill. Kill the Boer (Whites), kill the farmer.”)
Malema insists that the song does not explicitly encourage violence against white people but serves as a “revolutionary” anthem supporting the party’s ideology.
The New York Times echoed this interpretation in its article, suggesting that despite its contentious lyrics, the song represents a legitimate political expression rather than an incitement to violence.
Following the article’s publication, Musk encouraged his social media followers to cancel their subscriptions to the newspaper.
The New York Times actually has the nerve to support calls for genocide! If ever there was a time to cancel that publication, it is now.
You can read their articles for free anyway using https://t.co/2NjvMTsWmj. pic.twitter.com/ow11wxw7Ny
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 4, 2023
FARMER KILLINGS
The killings of white farmers in South Africa have been a contentious issue, seen by some as a symbol of the country’s ongoing struggles with race and inequality.
These violent incidents often occur in rural areas, where farmers, particularly white farmers, can be isolated and vulnerable.
(Plaasmoorde: White farmers in South Africa gather to plant white crosses for their murdered friends.)
There are differing opinions on the motives behind the attacks; some argue they are racially motivated, while others suggest crime rates and socio-economic conditions primarily drive them.
Despite these divergent views, the high profile nature of these attacks has led to significant international attention and concern.