‘Threats, intimidation’: Renaldo Gouws donations to be RETURNED

A Backabuddy crowdfunding initiative for Renaldo Gouws has been halted. Almost R50 000 will be returned to those who contributed to the campaign.

Gouws is facing a lawsuit by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which has vowed to take him to the Equality Court for alleged hate speech and racial utterances.

The DA MP courted controversy after an old clip of himself saying the K-word resurfaced on social media. He has since been suspended from the political party and is also facing an internal disciplinary hearing.

BACKABUDDY DISABLES CAMPAIGN

This week, a group of Renaldo Gouws supporters launched a Backabuddy fundraising campaign. According to the creator Matthew Dickson, the money raised would be going towards Gouws’s legal bills in his representation against the SAHRC.

Dickason said:  “Please support Renaldo Gouws against the very same SAHRC that doesn’t see Julius Malema and Andile Mngxitama’s hate speech as such but yet see Renaldo’s hyperbole as hate speech.”

However, the fundraising campaign -which raised nearly R50 000 of its R100 000 goal – was halted by Backabuddy on Wednesday, 26 June.

A Backabuddy fundraising campaign has raised almost R50 000 for suspended DA MP Renaldo Gouws. Images via Backabuddy

Backabuddy CEO Patrick Schofield told IOL that the campaign was flagged soon after its initiation as it “did not fit into Backabuddy’s terms and conditions.”

Schofield said the campaign had also seen “threats and intimidation” against IOL staffers, who first reported it.

“In our reasoning for taking it down (threats and intimidation) was very much a primary part of it. This campaign has directly resulted in hate speech and threats, hence being removed”.

Schofield added: “The donors associated with this campaign will be contacted, and arrangements are being made to refund their donations in full.”

RENALDO GOUWS SEEKS DONATIONS VIA LEGAL COUNSEL’S TRUST

Meanwhile, Renaldo Gouws, via his attorneys, have appealed to the public to donate towards his legal fees.

“Please help us in the fight for justice,” read a statement issued by his representatives.

Gouws has yet to return to his social media accounts following his video controversy last week.