Former member of the Democratic Alliance (DA), Renaldo Gouws has broken his silence after his termination from the party was announced on Friday.
Gouws took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm that he had been informed of the party's decision, which meant he would no longer be holding his seat in Parliament under the DA.
“Mr Gouws has been formally informed of this decision. He therefore forfeits his Democratic Alliance seat in Parliament,” Willie Aucamp, the national spokesperson for the DA said.
This comes after a thorough investigation was conducted by the DA’s Federal Legal Commission (FLC) into the allegations against Gouws.
“The FLC found Mr Gouws guilty of contravening several sections of the DA’s constitution. The DA remains committed to upholding its values of accountability, non-racialism, and respect for all South Africans,” Aucamp said.
Gouws confirmed the decision was taken after an investigation into allegations brought against him based on an article which found he had breached the press code on various counts.
“While I respect the processes within the party, I strongly disagree with both the findings of the FLC and the actions taken by FedEx. Throughout my career as a public representative, I have always represented my ward, constituency, province and country to the best of my ability. I have consistently worked to represent the best interests of all South Africans, regardless of race, culture or creed.
“It is disheartening to see a decision like this, especially one that I believe fails to reflect the full context of my actions and my dedication to my role as a public representative. It's also disheartening that something I said 15 years ago, and completely taken out of context, is held against me as if it was said over the last year,” Gouws said.
In his statement, he has admitted that for the past 16 years, he has been ‘an outspoken voice for accountability in government’ and this has made him a target.
He said the DA’s decision seemed to be motivated by factors beyond the merits of the case against him, however, he will continue to stand firm in his beliefs and convictions further stating few were willing to do this with cancel culture at an all-time high and with the terms racists and bigot being thrown around without consequence.
“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the constituents and supporters who have stood by me over the years. My commitment to fighting for a better South Africa remains unwavering, and while this chapter with the DA may be coming to an end, my journey of service to my country is far from over. I remain committed to the pursuit of a just and prosperous South Africa for all, and I will continue to pursue these goals with integrity, whether inside or outside the political sphere,” Gouws said.
He also emphasised this was not the end and that he would be exploring all legal and ethical options available to challenge the decision and clear his name.
“My commitment to my work and the people I serve remains my top priority.Thank you to all who have supported me during this difficult time. It's refreshing to see that most are not swayed by the agendas of some media houses,” he added.
IOL