Civil rights organisation AfriForum head of policy and action Ernst Roets said on Thursday that his party will appeal the Equality Court judgment which ruled that the “Kill the boer” chant is not hate speech.

The organisation took Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema to court, claiming that the ‘Kill the boer’ slogan incites violence and is fuelling farm murders.

Roets hit back against Judge Edwin Molahlehi, who ruled that AfriForum failed to make their case, and against the judiciary for what AfriForum is calling the “incitement and romanticisation of violence against minorities”.

He says the ruling creates a very dangerous precedent and encourages that the gruesome murder of a certain group based on their identity is acceptable and carries no consequences.

“AfriForum works constantly with the victims of farm attacks, as well as the families of those killed in these gruesome crimes. We understand the pain and trauma these victims and survivors have to live with. We are, therefore, deeply disappointed with today’s verdict. There is no place in society for songs that encourage the killing of people based on their identity,” adds Roets.

He said the ruling proved how the political order in South Africa was becoming radicalised, especially against minorities.

“This case once again confirms that AfriForum must now focus its attention on strengthening and intensifying our safety structures and security training,” said Roets.