Steve Hofmeyer: In the line of fame and fire

Steve Hofmeyer, an activist for Afrikaner rights in South Africa, he has been campaigning against black on white violence specifically that of commercial farmers for some time now, his arguments brought to life in Director Darrell Roodt's latest production, Treurgrond.

South African singer, songwriter and actor Steve Hofmeyr has been involved in several controversies during his three-decade-long career, many of which have afforded him the title of a racist.

Hofmeyr plays the role of Lukas van Staden, an Afrikaans farmer trying to protect his family, friends and farm from ongoing farm attacks. Though aware his involvement in the film would spark even further controversy due to its obviously racial themes, the actor indicated there was no way he could not be involved, as it's an issue close to his heart.

The day you wake up and realise that one of the most murdered groups in the world is your group, they belong in your tribe and ethnicity, in your demographic, you would be crazy not to do anything about it, he said.

Alluding to international murder rates, the actor said that 130 out of 100 000 farmers are murdered each year. That's not how South Africans should be treating each other, he said.

I have the ammo to make a hell of a noise about it and I'm going to, and I'm not going to stop until some sort of civil mortality rate comes back to South Africa.

When nothing is done about it, it becomes the most unattractive career to pursue. We have become net importers of food. That's unheard of for South Africans.

The genesis of farming comes from my culture; we've always been with the elements and the land. But as soon as I say anything; I'm seen as a racist.

Hofmeyr claimed it wasn't until 2015 that the first farm murder story made the front page of a newspaper.

Now we making movies about it, it's discussed in European parliament and it was on Carte Blanche, goddamit.

The film, which shares the tale of a farming community in South Africa trying to survive numerous farm attacks, also takes the time to showcase not only the effect on the farmer but a devastating chain of events set in motion for all involved, regardless of skin colour.

In his own joking manner, and with a sly smile on his face, Hofmeyr said: I think they made sure not to give Steve Hofmeyer the screenplay. They gave it to somebody younger and balanced, who wrote a story that highlights almost everybody's plight.

Does Hofmeyr distinguish himself as a racist?

I've never seen myself as a racist, he said.

You know that little list of people who jump up and say I'm not racist, they always look pathetic. But certainly in your reputation, in your lifestyle, if you are a racist, it will have to manifest somewhere in the way you treat people.

I have always treated people the same. I grew up in a family where we called everybody sir or madam immaterial of what culture or creed or race they were.

But we are so paranoid and neurotic that we can't have the race debate at all.

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