Chris Mahlangu's announcement to other farm workers that he was "now their boss" fuelled suspicions that the murder was politically motivated.[76] The murder took place amid a racial controversy in South Africa involving the singing of a song by African National Congress Youth League leader Julius Malema,[65][3] which includes the lyrics "Shoot the Boer" ("Dubul' ibhunu").[4][77] The ANC, which had previously defended its right to sing the song, announced that it would consider a moratorium on the singing of the song, following the murder, in the interests of national cohesion.[67] Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said that the murder would "inflame tensions" in South Africa.[78] Malema denied the song had anything to do with the murder, and defended his singing of it, saying he was "ready to die," and that he was not scared of Boers, in reference to threats, later retracted, that Terre'Blanche would be avenged.[79] ANC leaders later announced a temporary ban on the singing of the song.[80]