Johannesburg – The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) has confirmed that it has settled a hate speech complaint against expelled Democratic Alliance MP Renaldo Gouws.
The complaint was about a video Gouws posted on social media in 2010, which contained racially offensive and harmful language directed at Black South Africans.
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Following the video’s resurfacing in 2024 and subsequent complaints submitted to the Commission by members of the public, the SAHRC instituted proceedings against Gouws before the Equality Court.
“In March 2025, Gouws contacted the Commission requesting that the two parties explore mediation,” the SAHRC revealed on Friday, (16 May 2025).
“The matter has since been settled through the Commission’s alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process.
“As with other recent matters involving public expressions of racial harm, the Commission continues to apply ADR mechanisms where appropriate, guided by the objectives of accountability, reconciliation, and social cohesion.”
The SAHRC said the terms of settlement include a full and unconditional public apology, which Gouws has issued.
Gouws’ apology includes the following statement:
“It was unacceptable for me to have used such violent language to make my point.
“I accept now that these racial slurs have been correctly declared by the Constitutional Court to be unutterable and racist.
“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.
‘I know that this apology does not erase what I said or did, but it is a step I must take to acknowledge the effect of my actions and begin to account for them.”
The SAHRC said it welcomes 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.
“As part of this settlement, Mr. Gouws will participate in two sessions convened by the SAHRC, which will consist of workshops, public education and/or awareness-raising activities aligned with the SAHRC’s mandate as well as attending a diversity sensitisation session,” the SAHRC said.
