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DA suspends Renaldo Gouws for racist videos

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The Democratic Alliance has suspended former Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality councillor and MP Renaldo Gouws after another video of him making racist comments surfaced on social media on Wednesday.

In the latest video, allegedly recorded in 2010, Gouws can be heard using the K-word and saying they must be killed.

Gouws had run into trouble last week after videos of him making racist slurs circulated on social media, just days after he was sworn in as a member of parliament last Friday.

In a statement on Thursday, the party confirmed that it had decided to suspend Gouws with immediate effect while disciplinary proceedings against him were pending before the party’s Federal Legal Affairs Commission.

The chairwoman of the DA Federal Council, Helen Zille, said Gouws used language that contradicted the DA’s value system.

“His case has been referred to the party’s federal commission and if he wishes to defend himself, he can do so there. Until then, he has been suspended from all party activities pending the outcome of his disciplinary proceedings.

Last week, angry X users launched a petition calling for Gouws to be removed from parliament. In response, Gouws posted an apology on his X and Facebook profiles, denying the accusations of racism and the allegations of racism. He said he had taken responsibility for his immature, younger self.

Gouws also said he shot the video when former President Jacob Zuma and then-youth leader and current commander-in-chief of economic freedom fighters Julius Malema were singing songs about killing people based on their race.

Meanwhile, at a Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality council meeting in Gqeberha on Thursday, several party members called for Gouws to be expelled from the National Assembly, saying he was violating all democratic values.

Read more: DA responds to calls for EC MP to be fired over 2009 video

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