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Controversy Erupts Over Alleged Censorship of Carte Blanche Episode Linking Julius Malema to Farm Murders
A 2017 episode of the South African investigative journalism program Carte Blanche has reignited controversy, with claims that it was removed from public access due to its alleged implication of Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), in a series of violent farm murders. The episode, which detailed the dire situation of rural attacks in South Africa, has become a focal point for debates over media censorship, political incitement, and the ongoing crisis of farm violence.
The episode reportedly included a claim from a member of the notorious 28s prison gang, who alleged that Malema was involved in hiring assassins to target farmers. According to the gang member, recently released after serving over 20 years for farm murders, Malema visited New Lock prison to discuss the recruitment of hitmen, offering balaclavas, guns, and cash.
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However, Carte Blanche explicitly stated that this allegation was unverified, as Malema did not respond to their requests for comment, leaving the claim unresolved.
Despite Carte Blanche’s caution, the episode’s content has sparked a firestorm on social media, with users asserting that the video was deliberately erased from YouTube and official Carte Blanche channels. “Carte Blanche erased all evidence of this report,” claimed X user @Recon1_ZA, suggesting a cover-up to protect Malema and the EFF from scrutiny. The user further noted that the documentary was originally uploaded to Facebook with a caption indicating its removal from YouTube, a move that has fueled accusations of censorship in a country where freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democracy.
Farm murders in South Africa have been a persistent and troubling issue, with the episode highlighting that February of 2017, the year it aired, saw the highest number of such incidents since 1990, with 16 deaths in 46 attacks. Over 27 years, there have been 4,200 attacks and 1,878 fatalities, disproportionately affecting rural communities. The violence is often characterized by extreme brutality, with attackers waiting for victims to arrive home before torturing them, a pattern that suggests more than mere robbery.
The episode also explored the broader context of these attacks, including the political rhetoric surrounding land reform. Black First Land First (BLF), a group advocating for land restitution, was quoted as understanding the anger of black South Africans over historical land dispossession, implicitly justifying violence as a means to reclaim what was lost. This backdrop sets the stage for the allegation against Malema, whose inflammatory statements, such as his “kill the Boer” slogan, have long been criticized by groups like AfriForum, which successfully obtained a court interdict against him for encouraging violence.
Carte Blanche itself has distanced from the social media narrative, clarifying in a 2020 statement that the episode did not directly link Malema to the murders but rather reported an unverified claim. “This is not accurate and taken out of context,” the program stated, emphasizing that they had sought Malema’s response but received none due to his busy schedule. Yet, the disappearance of the episode from public platforms has led many to question the integrity of media institutions and their role in a polarized political landscape.
Julius Malema, a polarizing figure in South African politics, has neither confirmed nor denied the allegations of involvement in farm murders, as noted in the 2018The Citizen article titled “Malema says he is ‘maybe’ behind farm murders” where he cheekily refused to confirm or deny the allegations, and the EFF has not issued a formal response to the allegations.
The controversy comes at a time when South Africa is grappling with deep-seated issues of land reform, racial tension, and rural safety, with farm attacks posing a significant threat to the nation’s food security and social stability.
The debate over the Carte Blanche episode underscores broader concerns about censorship and the control of information in South Africa. As social media users argue, the removal of the video could be seen as an attempt to silence critical journalism, especially given the political implications for Malema and the EFF. However, without access to the original content, verifying these claims remains challenging, leaving the public to navigate a landscape of hearsay and speculation.
In the end, the episode’s legacy is a reminder of the complex interplay between media, politics, and violence in South Africa. Whether Carte Blanche removed the episode for editorial reasons or due to external pressures, the allegations against Julius Malema continue to resonate, challenging the nation to confront the darker aspects of its ongoing struggle for justice and reconciliation.
Carte Blanche’s Statement on 2017 Farm Murders Investigation and Julius Malema
“Carte Blanche has seen social media content which alleges that we linked the leader of the EFF, Julius Malema, to the hiring of assassins to commit farm murders. This is not accurate and taken out of context.”
“In our 2017 story on farm murders, we broadcast a phone conversation sent to us between a ‘general’ in the 28s prison gang and a national intelligence agent. The ‘general’ implicated Mr Malema in this alleged conduct. Carte Blanche reached out to Mr Malema for comment before the broadcast but he was not available to be interviewed due to his schedule. We made it clear in the broadcast that the allegation was unverified.”
Source: https://www.dstv.com/m-net/en-za/show/carte-blanche/season/38/news/2017-story-on-farm-murders/news
Additional sources
The Citizen – Malema says he is ‘maybe’ behind farm murders: https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/malema-says-he-is-maybe-behind-farm-murders
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