BackaBuddy Pulls Plug on Renaldo Gouws’ Mock LGBTQ+ Gaza Fundraiser

The BackaBuddy crowdfunding platform has shut down a clickbait fundraising campaign launched by controversial South African social media figure and former MP Renaldo Gouws, which claimed to raise money to send an LGBTQ+ activist to Gaza.

Gouws launched the cynical stunt in December, presenting it as a fundraiser while using it to mock LGBTQ+ people and activists who have expressed opposition to the genocide in Gaza and solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The campaign sought to contend that queer solidarity with Palestinians is incompatible with the danger LGBTQ+ people would face under Hamas rule because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Stunt framed as a “gotcha” exercise

Gouws claimed that the funds would cover flights, accommodation and travel “for the lucky person”.

He added: “The only requirement I have is that they go to a busy street corner in Gaza and livestream them waving the two flags together for an hour. This will show us how united the Palestinian people and the LGBTQI+ community truly are.”

Nineteen donors eagerly contributed a total of R4,340 to the campaign. Several appeared to support its hostile intent, with one donor commenting: “I don’t support lbtq + garbage agenda.”

Campaign reported and reviewed

MambaOnline reported the campaign to BackaBuddy on the grounds that it did not constitute a good-faith attempt to raise funds for a legitimate cause, but was instead designed to score cheap political points and generate social media engagement.

Within hours of the complaint, BackaBuddy suspended the campaign pending a review. That review concluded in January, resulting in the campaign being permanently closed in line with BackaBuddy’s platform standards and Terms and Conditions.

In a statement on the donation page, the platform said the action was taken “to protect donors, campaign creators, and the integrity of our community”.

BackaBuddy confirmed that all donations are in the process of being refunded.

Gouws’ history of controversy

Gouws is best known for facing widespread condemnation over a 2010 video in which he used a racist slur. He argued at the time that the clip had been taken out of context and claimed he was criticising the EFF’s controversial “Kill the Boer” song. He apologised, denied being racist, and attributed his “colourful language” to youthful immaturity.

Following the resurfacing of the video years later, the Democratic Alliance suspended Gouws as a Member of Parliament. He has since joined the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus).