A mass funeral is meant to be a moment of remembrance and reflection.
But when Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema attended the funeral for ten party members who died in a tragic bus crash, the event took a political and controversial turn.
Malema’s decision to sing “Kill The Boer” at the close of the ceremony has sparked fierce public debate—both at home and internationally.
Honoring the Fallen EFF Members
The ten EFF supporters tragically lost their lives in a head-on collision near Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal.
They had been returning from a Youth Day rally in Durban on June 16 when the accident occurred.
On Sunday, friends, family, and party supporters gathered in Vryheid for a mass funeral to mourn their loss. Malema, joined by other EFF leaders, delivered a heartfelt message to the mourners.
“They died while in pursuit of life,” Malema said. “They were travelling with hope in their hearts.”
He also pledged to build houses for the families of the deceased, earning emotional applause from the crowd.
The Song That Sparked Outrage
Despite the somber nature of the event, Malema ended the proceedings with the singing of the song “Kill The Boer”—a chant rooted in South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle.
It wasn’t the first time he performed it, but the timing, at a funeral, struck many as inappropriate and jarring.
Some social media users felt the song clashed with the tone of the event.
One user posted, “If there’s no connection between these deaths and the Boer, why sing the song?” Others criticized Malema for turning a solemn funeral into a platform for political messaging.
Gayton McKenzie Responds with Sharp Criticism
Gayton McKenzie, the newly appointed Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, was among those who condemned Malema’s actions.
Speaking at OR Tambo International Airport during the Proteas’ homecoming celebration, McKenzie didn’t hold back.
“We should be celebrating unity and progress,” he said. “Kids of all races sang for Temba Bavuma today.
Why are we still dragging nonsense like ‘Kill The Boer’ into public spaces?”
McKenzie doubled down on social media, posting: “They are the biggest idiots.
The current South Africa has no place for such a song.
It has no value and contributes nothing toward the SA we are trying to construct.”
A Divided Reaction at Home and Abroad
The backlash wasn’t limited to South Africans. International figures, including former U.S. President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, reportedly joined the chorus of criticism, labeling the song choice divisive and unnecessary—especially at a funeral.
While Malema’s supporters argue that the song remains a symbol of struggle and identity, critics view its continued use as inflammatory in a democratic South Africa trying to heal from its past.
A Moment for Reflection
Malema has never shied away from controversy, but this incident has re-ignited an old national question:
What place do liberation struggle songs have in modern-day South Africa? And more importantly, is there a time and place for them that demands greater sensitivity?
As the country continues to mourn the tragic loss of ten young lives, the debate over how we honor the past without harming the present remains deeply relevant.