Axed DA MP Renaldo Gouws to explore legal, ethical challenge to membership termination

The DA’s highest decision-making body, the Federal Executive, has unanimously decided to terminate the membership of its controversial MP, Renaldo Gouws, effectively ending his brief three-month career as a parliamentarian. 

The decision follows a comprehensive investigation by the party’s Federal Legal Commission.  

Gouws was in hot water for racist videos in which he repeatedly called South Africans the k-word and the n-word – derogatory terms used during the apartheid era – which he took about 15 years ago which resurfaced in June following his swearing-in at the National Assembly as part of the seventh administration. 

In a statement at the weekend, national spokesperson and MP Willie Aucamp said Gouws has been formally informed of the decision to terminate his membership.

“He therefore forfeits his Democratic Alliance seat in Parliament. This decision follows a thorough investigation conducted by the DA’s Federal Legal Commission (FLC) into the allegations against Mr Gouws. The FLC found Mr Gouws guilty of contravening several sections of the DA’s constitution.”

This effectively means that Gouws, who previously served as a Nelson Mandela Bay councillor, will forfeit several taxpayer-funded benefits, including an annual R1.27-million (more than R100,000 a month) salary, subsidised medical aid and free flights.

Gouws has since indicated he will explore all avenues available to him to challenge the termination of his membership.  

“I would like to emphasise that this is not the end. I will be exploring all legal and ethical options available to me to challenge this decision and clear my name. My commitment to my work and the people I serve remains my top priority,” he said. 

Gouws said the party’s decision was disheartening and “fails to reflect the full context of my actions and my dedication to my role as a public representative. It’s also disheartening that something I said 15 years ago, and completely taken out of context, is held against me as if it was said over the last year.”  

Read more: DA suspends Renaldo Gouws over racist language video 

Gouws also claimed the party’s stance appeared to be motivated by factors beyond the merits of the case against him. “However, I will continue to stand firm in my beliefs and convictions; it seems few are willing to do this, with cancel culture at an all-time high and with the terms ‘racist’ and ‘bigot’ being thrown around without consequence.”

In the video, Gouws is heard saying: “Alright, so there’s a couple of things I want to say. Kill the f**ing k*ffirs, kill all the f*ing n*ggers. That’s all I gotta f*ing say. Kill all the k*ffirs! Kill all the f*ing n*ggers!”

When the party called him to account, Gouws was said to have claimed that the video had been fake and possibly taken using modern technology such as AI tools. 

He said at the time: “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.”  

Gouws’s incident is similar to that of a South African man, Adam Catzavelos, who in 2018 recorded himself making racist comments about the lack of black people in his surroundings.

While on holiday abroad, Catzavelos filmed himself saying: “Not one k***r in sight, f**king heaven on Earth… You cannot beat this!” 

In response, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) fined Catzevelos R200,000 in 2019 and mandated an apology. Much like Gouws, Catzavelos lost his job at his family’s business. The SAHRC is also pursuing legal action against Gouws on the grounds that his utterances "constitute hate speech and/or harassment as contemplated in terms of sections 10 and 11 of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 2000 (PEPUDA or Equality Act)."

Gouws’s videos led to an online petition on Change.org in which more than 53,000 people called for his removal. 

The firing of Gouws also comes fresh off the heels of DA party leader and now Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuizen asking his newly appointed controversial chief of staff, Roman Cabanac, to resign. 

Read more: Reflective Steenhuisen asks Roman Cabanac to quit after internal DA backlash and public outrage

Read more: By rewarding Roman Cabanac’s bigotry, Steenhuisen risks the future of the GNU

Steenhuisen had been facing increasing pressure from within the DA and from the public. The DA leader initially defended the appointment of Cabanac, who is known to be a divisive and race-baiting figure, on the grounds of Cabanac’s legal experience. However, at a briefing with the Cape Town Press Council last Thursday, he said: “In hindsight, there should’ve been a little bit more due diligence done. In hindsight, there should have been greater foresight.” DM