DA leader John Steenhuisen has been cleared of allegations that he abused a party credit card.
Gallo Images/Jeffrey Abrahams
Helen Zille,DA’s FedEx chairperson,has warned party leader John Steenhuisen and former minister Dion George to stop squabbling publicly.Failing to do so could result in the party invoking sections of its constitution that provide for the cessation of membership.The party is now also investigating whether Steenhuisen and George brought the party into disrepute.
DA strongwoman Helen Zille has warned party leader John Steenhuisen and former minister Dion George to “cease and desist” their public squabbles or face removal from the party.
On Monday,the DA’s federal executive (FedEx) met to deliberate on the matter,which has seen the factional lines clearly drawn within the DA ahead of its April elective congress.
A preliminary investigation was led by the party’s Federal Legal Commission chairperson,Glynnis Breytenbach.
ADVERTISEMENT
In a statement,FedEx chairperson Zille emphasised that the party’s top brass won’t tolerate any violation of its constitution.
She said:
The FedEx further resolved to require all parties involved to ‘cease and desist’ from publicly discussing or airing disagreements relating to this matter,either themselves or through proxies,until such time as the FLC inquiry is finalised. Section 3.1.5.9 of the DA’s constitution provides for the cessation of membership of any party member who violates this warning.
Furthermore,it was resolved to refer to the FLC process:
Allegations regarding the abuse of government resources.Public communication following the submission of complaints to the Public Protector.The refusal of a former member of George’s ministerial staff to co-operate with the investigation.The leaking of internal financial information from the party.
“The Fedex requested the FLC to pursue all the inquiries on an expedited basis,giving it priority over other pending matters. The DA takes all allegations of impropriety against its public representations very seriously. The DA is committed to following due process in the handling of internal disciplinary matters and expects party members to respect the outcomes of this preliminary report and further inquiries,on which future decisions of the FeDex will be based,” Zille said.
ADVERTISEMENT
While Steenhuisen may have been cleared of the credit card fiasco,an investigation into whether he and George,who also serves as the party’s federal finance chairperson,brought the party into disrepute following their open clashes will still go ahead.
Steehuisen’s finances were laid bare after the Daily Maverick reported that the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court had issued a default judgment against him in May 2025 for nearly R150 000 in unpaid personal credit card debt.
READ | Ex-DA minister George faces sexual misconduct claims amid bullying,lavish trips
This occurred despite him earning a R2.69-million annual salary as agriculture minister.
In December,the FLC initiated its probe into the matter amid heightened tensions between Steenhuisen and George in the past weeks,following the latter’s removal as minister of environment,forestry and fisheries.
At the time of his axing,the party cited poor performance.
However,more allegations against George have since emerged. They include lavish international trips and unprofessional behaviour in his former role.
United News - unews.co.za