The Democratic Alliance (DA) has moved to contain growing internal tensions after a public dispute involving senior party figures. The fallout stems from DA leader John Steenhuisen’s request to President Cyril Ramaphosa to remove Dion George as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
Reports suggest the conflict intensified after George declined an internal proposal from Steenhuisen to step down to a deputy ministerial role in the trade, industry and competition portfolio. His removal from Cabinet has been linked not only to performance-related concerns but also allegations of unprofessional conduct and frequent international travel.
Following George’s departure, party spokesperson Willie Aucamp was appointed as the new minister.
Accusations Over Credit Card Use
The dispute escalated further when details emerged of George accusing Steenhuisen of misusing the DA’s official credit card for personal expenses. These reportedly included takeaway meals and household costs charged through services such as Uber Eats. George is understood to have stopped the card after noticing transactions he believed were unrelated to party business.
Additional reports have pointed to Steenhuisen’s financial troubles, including a default judgment issued by the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court earlier this year for unpaid personal credit card debt amounting to nearly R150 000.
DA Moves to Restore Order
With the spat playing out publicly, DA Federal Executive chairperson Helen Zille has intervened, urging party members to refrain from airing internal disputes in the media. She confirmed that the Federal Executive met on Sunday night to determine a formal response.
According to Zille, the matter has been referred to the party’s Federal Legal Commission for a full investigation into possible breaches of the DA’s constitution and internal rules. She added that all individuals involved have been instructed to step back from public commentary and allow the party’s internal processes to proceed.
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