Renaldo Gouws

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Laurynne Meyer
​
(m. 2014)​
Renaldo Gouws
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
In office
14 June 2024 –30 September 2024
ChildrenNone

Renaldo Gouws (born 2 May 1983) is a South African YouTuber, industrial psychologist and former politician.

Contents

In 2024 he served as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa, however after being accused of racism due to comments he made in videos recorded and subsequently deleted, he was subsequently expelled from the Democratic Alliance and resigned from Parliament. [1] [2]

Early life and education

Gouws was born in the small town of Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, and attended Hoërskool Brandwag. He studied at the Nelson Mandela University where he obtained a masters degree in industrial psychology in 2010. [3] He currently does consultation work as an industrial psychologist.

Political career

Gouws joined the DA in 2012. His political career began when he became the branch chairperson of Ward 2 in Nelson Mandela Bay in 2012. Gouws graduated in 2012 from the Provincial Young Leaders Program and the National Young Leadership Program in 2013. In 2016 he ranked high enough on the PR list for the DA to secure a seat for the Nelson Mandela Municipality Council. In 2019 he was elected as DA councillor for Ward 2 in a by-election where the DA received 94%. [4] [5] [6] From 2019 Gouws served as the Spokesperson for Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture for the DA in Nelson Mandela Bay. [7]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gouws with his caucus leadership formulated a plan that would assist in turning the metro around. [8]

Following the 2024 South African general election, Gouws was sworn in as a Member of Parliament for the DA, but was suspended from the party a few days later after an alleged racist video surfaced. In the video excerpt, published by Independent Online, Gouws used racial slurs calling for the 'killing of all black people'. [9] The excerpt came from a longer video recorded by Gouws in 2010, which had previously been deleted from Gouws's YouTube channel but was still available in an archive from 2012. In the video, Gouws says he did not truly mean the words he said and that they were for the purpose of creating context for the anger at then ANC youth league leader Julius Malema singing the song 'Kill the Boer'. [10] [11]

Gouws took Independent Media to the Press Ombudsman for using only 4% (15 seconds) of the video and removing 96% of the video’s original context. The Press Ombudsman ruled in Gouws's favour by finding Independent Media guilty of four breaches of the press code as a result. [12]

Independent Media has since been expelled from the Press Council and therefore it is unsure whether Gouws will receive a public apology as requested by the Press Council of South Africa. This incident has illustrated that Independent Media has lost all credibility, bringing into question whether Gouws was treated fairly by the media and by social media users. [13]

Andile Lungisa jug incident (2016)

During a council meeting in Nelson Mandela Bay in 2016, a brawl broke out that led to glass jugs being thrown around injuring people. [14] Andile Lungisa broke a glass jug over a fellow councillor's head and was arrested for Grievous bodily harm. Gouws took footage of the incident [15] which was used to convict Lungisa of assault. [16] [17] [18]

Social media activity and allegations

Gouws started a YouTube channel in 2009 with a focus on South African current events and politics. He used to do a debate show which is called the Sunday Service, in which he spoke to senior politicians, celebrities and thought leaders about South Africa. Over the years Gouws has been no stranger to controversy having been accused and formally charged of racism, hate speech and incitement to violence. [19]

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References

  1. ↑ Felix, Jason (20 June 2024). "SA Human Rights Commission takes suspended DA MP Renaldo Gouws to Equality Court for 'hate speech'". News24.
  2. ↑ du Plessis, Christiaan. "KYK | DA skors nuwe LP Renaldo Gouws oor k-woord-video". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  3. ↑ "Masters Degree Dissertation". Seals. 2010.
  4. ↑ "DA Nelson Mandela Bay picks Renaldo Gouws as candidate for Ward 2 by-election". RNews. 7 February 2019.
  5. ↑ "DA's Renaldo Gouws in a resounding win in Ward 2 by-election". RNews. 7 March 2019.
  6. ↑ "DA retains control in Ward 2 by-election". TheHerald. 7 March 2019.
  7. ↑ "Let's move Nelson Mandela Bay forward again". The Herald. 10 July 2020.
  8. ↑ "DA urges a rates holiday to help businesses affected by coronavirus". The Herald. 10 July 2020.
  9. ↑ "New racist video of DA MP Renaldo Gouws surfaces". Independent Online. 19 June 2024.
  10. ↑ Felix, Jason (20 June 2024). "SA Human Rights Commission takes suspended DA MP Renaldo Gouws to Equality Court for 'hate speech'". News24.
  11. ↑ du Plessis, Christiaan. "KYK | DA skors nuwe LP Renaldo Gouws oor k-woord-video". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  12. ↑ "Press Ombuds Finding IOL/Gouws". Press Council of South Africa. 9 October 2024.
  13. ↑ "Press Council expels Independent Media Group". Press Council of South Africa. 23 October 2024.
  14. ↑ "DA, ANC COUNCILLORS IN HOSPITAL AFTER MANDELA BAY COUNCIL MEETING BRAWL". The Herald. 10 July 2020.
  15. ↑ "Accused in council 'water jug' assault case takes the stand". TimesLive. 19 March 2018.
  16. ↑ "Andile Lungisa assault trial: Damning video played in court". News24. 22 January 2018.
  17. ↑ "Andile Lungisa gets two years in jail for assault". Mail&Guardian. 9 May 2018.
  18. ↑ "Andile Lungisa gets two years in jail for assault". News24. 9 May 2018.
  19. ↑ Mbolekwa, Sisanda (20 June 2024). "Human rights commission takes suspended DA MP Renaldo Gouws to equality court". TimesLIVE.
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