Former DA councillor and short-lived member of parliament Renaldo Gouws has issued a full, unconditional public apology for his use of racist language in a 2010 video.
Gouws admitted that both his comments and the years of defensiveness that followed caused deep harm to black people.
The apology, dated May 14, was published by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) following the settlement of a hate speech complaint.
The complaint was filed after the offensive video resurfaced in June 2024, shortly after Gouws was sworn in parliament.
“In that video, I started with the words: ‘Kill the f*cking k*ffirs. Kill all the f*cking n*ggers. That is all I’ve got to f*cking say. Kill all the k*ffirs. Kill all the f*cking n*ggers,” Gouws admitted in his apology.
“Although I followed this with the words: I didn’t mean what I just said, it was unacceptable for me to have used such violent language to make my point.”
Video amassed over 100K views
He further admitted to calling EFF leader Julius Malema “an ignorant little f*cking black idiot” and described his supporters as “f*cking barbaric people”.
Originally recorded while he was a 27-year-old student, the video had amassed over 100 000 views before it was taken down in 2013.
Gouws initially offered what he now calls a “vague” Facebook apology, which failed to fully acknowledge the impact of his words.
“More significantly, I failed to acknowledge and apologise for the deep pain and humiliation my words undoubtedly caused to black people, both at home and abroad,” he wrote.
Gouws’s combative response to the 2024 backlash, including attacks on the media and the commission, cost him his seat in parliament and membership in the DA following his expulsion from the party.
“I maintain that I was treated unfairly by the DA,” he said, “but I now recognise that my prior apologies were in fact limited and qualified.”
Remarks about SAHRC withdrawn
He also withdrew remarks about the SAHRC, which he had previously accused of “double standards” and suggested that it be “defunded”.
“I retract these remarks. The SAHRC performs vital functions in our democracy, including combating racial hostility and hatred.
“To all South Africans, especially black South Africans, and black people globally — I am sorry. I am sorry for the pain, anger, and trauma my words have caused. I am sorry for trying to justify, minimise, and sanitise them.”
SAHRC spokesperson Wisani Baloyi confirmed that the case has been settled through the commission’s alternative dispute resolution process.
“The commission welcomes Mr Gouws’s acknowledgment of the impact of his past conduct and reiterates that the right to freedom of expression must be exercised in a manner that respects the dignity and equality of all people,” said Baloyi.
As part of the settlement, Gouws will participate in two SAHRC-led sessions, including public education, awareness raising, and diversity sensitisation workshops.
