In a rare and dramatic public apology, former Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Renaldo Gouws has formally apologized to EFF leader Julius Malema and Black South Africans for a racially charged video that resurfaced more than a decade after it was first posted.
The video, originally uploaded to YouTube in 2010 when Gouws was 27 years old, sparked outrage after resurfacing and led to a hate speech case brought by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). In the clip, Gouws launched into a scathing, profanity-laced response to Malema’s singing of the controversial struggle song “Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer.”
Using extremely offensive racial slurs—including the K-word and N-word—Gouws called Malema an “ignorant, little f-ing black idiot” and labeled those singing along as “f-ing barbaric people.” He further described affirmative action as a “new apartheid.”
The clip, though over a decade old, reignited conversations around racism in South African politics and public accountability. Following mounting pressure, Gouws issued a full public apology on 15 May, acknowledging the profound harm his words had caused.
“My language was insensitive, divisive, and deeply hurtful,” Gouws said. “Even if not meant literally, it was unacceptable and offensive in every sense. I am sorry for the pain, anger, and trauma my words have caused.”
Gouws’ apology aligns with a Constitutional Court judgment affirming that such racial language is unutterable in any context.
In light of the apology, the SAHRC withdrew the hate speech case, opting for reconciliation over retribution—though Gouws narrowly avoided potential penalties such as community service or fines.
This episode serves as a stark reminder of the long shadow cast by racism, and how the digital past can resurface to demand accountability in the present.
