Donald Pols, former director of Milieudefensie, faced intense scrutiny after investigative reports exposed his past role leading a pro-apartheid group.
Historical research by author Anne-Lot Hoek revealed that Pols served as chairman of the Afrikaner Studente Front (ASF) in 1991 at age 19.
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The ultra-conservative organization actively fought against the abolition of apartheid and opposed the anti-racial transition led by the African National Congress (ANC).
The ASF used Nazi symbolism, such as the Odal rune, and engaged in disruptive tactics to silence black rights advocates on university campuses.
Records and footage from April 1991 show the group violently disrupted a scheduled speech by newly released ANC leader Nelson Mandela at the University of Pretoria.
Pols expressed deep regret regarding his teenage actions while speaking at a teahouse in Oegstgeest, though he initially struggled with the historical evidence presented to him.
"It is reprehensible behavior, they were wrong positions, very wrong positions," Pols said.
"There is nothing to justify, and I don't want to either. I am responsible.
But in no way am I the person I was then," he added.
The former environmental leader initially denied his presence in an ASF promotional photograph found on Flickr before admitting the truth in a subsequent interview.
"By denying it, I was just looking for some space for myself to grasp my feelings. But I am disgusted by that photo you showed me.
I am ashamed of it," Pols said.
Archived records from April 1991 also revealed his past statements regarding the political necessity of a white ethno-state to avoid violence.
"This is our land, and we will not allow it to be taken from us in such a dictatorial way.
The only way to prevent a bloodbath is to give the Afrikaner his own homeland," Pols had said.
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Media archives showed that Pols publicly defended the disruption of the Mandela event to international press outlets immediately after the campus riot occurred.
"This was enough to stir the emotions of any right-thinking white person.
We repeatedly warned the left-wing students (who had invited Mandela to speak) that the meeting would arouse emotions that could no longer be controlled.
Despite our warnings, the meeting went ahead," Pols said at the time.
Regarding video footage showing an individual in an ASF crowd burning an ANC flag, Pols changed his stance after closer review.
"I do indeed recognize myself. Both can be true, right?
That I can't remember it, and that it did happen and I recognize myself," Pols said.
Pols later retracted this statement after evaluating the video on a larger screen at home with several other people.
"I spent hours looking at that video with several people today, at home on a big screen too.
I am 100 percent convinced it is not me," Pols said.
Pols maintained that the individual in the footage does not resemble him at all.
The Dutch Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings continue to list his name in historical records regarding apartheid-era offenses.
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The revelations led to the abrupt career termination of Pols at Tata Steel on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
