Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has verified the authenticity of a video showing MP Renaldo Gouws using offensive and racist language, originally suspected to be fake.
Consequently, the DA Federal Executive has immediately suspended Gouws pending disciplinary proceedings before the party’s Federal Legal Commission.
In a statement, the DA said: “The DA has established that the video, in which Renaldo Gouws uses execrable language, is in fact genuine and not a fake as initially suspected.
Fellow South Africans, meet your new member of parliament. His name is Renaldo Gouws and he is a DA member. And I hope @MYANC is proud. pic.twitter.com/fBpMSjUGrd
— Mzilikazi wa Afrika (@IamMzilikazi) June 17, 2024
“The DA Federal Executive has therefore suspended Mr Gouws with immediate effect while he faces disciplinary charges before the Party’s Federal Legal Commission.”
Gouws has since apologised for the initial videos that surfaced publicly, attributing his behaviour to youth and immaturity. However, he has denied allegations of being racist.
“I refute any claims of racism or being a racist. I can however see how my message was distorted in the way it was delivered by me and I take full responsibility for the actions of my younger and immature self.
“For that, I apologise unreservedly,” he said in a tweet on Tuesday.
Renaldo Gouws responds after South Africans petition Parliament to remove him over racist remarks…who is this other person who’s in another province he’s referring to? I thought his video were all made in Cape Town 🤔 pic.twitter.com/hvQdOXYhYD
— Peché Africa 🇿🇦 (@pmcafrica) June 17, 2024
According to IOL, on Wednesday, DA leader John Steenhuisen addressed the media, acknowledging that some of the remarks made by Gouws were attributed to immaturity due to his youth.
Steenhuisen also noted that Gouws has apologised for his comments.
“These remarks need to be seen in their context, he has apologised for them. It was 16 years ago when people are young and irresponsible, they are young and irresponsible,” the report quoted Steenhuisen as saying.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@IamMzilikazi
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
