The killing comes at a time when the nation’s racial divisions seem particularly acute, the cleft deepened by the singing of a song.
Julius Malema, the leader of the governing party’s youth league, has recently included a singalong at his public appearances. The song, “Ayesab’ Amagwala,” dates back to the struggle against apartheid. Its lyrics include the lines “Shoot the Boer” — the Dutch word for farmer — “shoot, shoot, shoot them with a gun.”
These renditions have led to hot crosscurrents of opinion here, with some saying that the song has historical importance and that the “shooting” part is metaphorical, while others claim the words are a renewed solicitation to kill.
Last week two judges, in separate hearings, declared the song unlawful and banned its performance, a decision that had many legal experts debating the boundaries between free speech and hate speech

Zuma Seeks to Calm South Africa After Killing