Eugene Terre'blanche, the leader of the white supremacist Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (Afrikaner Resistance Movement), has died. He was murdered by two of his farm workers, allegedly over a pay dispute. Terre'blanche gained notoriety as the charismatic, oratorical leader of his organisation, which was modelled on the Nazis and other fascist paramilitary groups.
In the aftermath of Nelson Mandela's release and the beginning of negotiations to end Apartheid, Terre'blanche and his supporters vowed to create an all-white republic based in the areas of the old Boer republics. They were not hesitant to resort to violence in order to achieve their aims. He was imprisoned in 2001 after assaulting a black petrol station worker, which left the victim mentally and physically impaired. When he was released in 2004, he claimed to have re-discovered God and although he still envisioned an all-white republic, he claimed to have moderated his views. His death essentially marks the end of one of the most violent chapters of South African history; ironically enough, by violent means.
In the aftermath of his death, government and ANC leaders have appealed for calm and have condemned the murder. Opposition parties have also appealed for calm, but linked his murder with the controversy over the singing of the song Ayesab' amagwala (the cowards are scared), which contains the lyrics Dubul' ibhunu (shoot the Boer), by ANC Youth League leader, Julius Malema. Furthermore, members of Terre'blanche's organisation have blamed Malema and the ANC and vowed revenge after Terre'blanche's funeral.
Terre'blanche's murder should be a lesson. Violence begets violence. Terre'blanche was clearly unafraid to resort to violence when he saw it was necessary. And now, he has come to a violent end. His death should serve as a warning to Malema, another divisive figure. Malema is a threat to racial reconciliation in South Africa, with his utterances. Terre'blanche was the same. Malema once vowed to declare war against the South African Communist Party when he was heckled at a Communist Party rally. Terre'blanche was the same; he declared war on the notion of a multiracial democracy. Malema clearly has a problem with people of a different skin colour and those who do not share his world view; Terre'blanche was the same. If Terre'blanche should meet his end the way he lived his life, then Julius Malema should be wary. Because Terre'blanche condoned and waged violence against black people, and the violence that he condoned and waged came back to take him. If Malema does not cease to racially divide South Africa and condone violence against minorities, then he will meet a similar end to Terre'blanche.
In the aftermath of his death, government and ANC leaders have appealed for calm and have condemned the murder. Opposition parties have also appealed for calm, but linked his murder with the controversy over the singing of the song Ayesab' amagwala (the cowards are scared), which contains the lyrics Dubul' ibhunu (shoot the Boer), by ANC Youth League leader, Julius Malema. Furthermore, members of Terre'blanche's organisation have blamed Malema and the ANC and vowed revenge after Terre'blanche's funeral.
Terre'blanche's murder should be a lesson. Violence begets violence. Terre'blanche was clearly unafraid to resort to violence when he saw it was necessary. And now, he has come to a violent end. His death should serve as a warning to Malema, another divisive figure. Malema is a threat to racial reconciliation in South Africa, with his utterances. Terre'blanche was the same. Malema once vowed to declare war against the South African Communist Party when he was heckled at a Communist Party rally. Terre'blanche was the same; he declared war on the notion of a multiracial democracy. Malema clearly has a problem with people of a different skin colour and those who do not share his world view; Terre'blanche was the same. If Terre'blanche should meet his end the way he lived his life, then Julius Malema should be wary. Because Terre'blanche condoned and waged violence against black people, and the violence that he condoned and waged came back to take him. If Malema does not cease to racially divide South Africa and condone violence against minorities, then he will meet a similar end to Terre'blanche.
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