DA war deepens as Zille intervenes in Steenhuisen and George fight over misuse of party credit card

Chairperson of the DA’s Federal Executive, Helen Zille, has reprimanded party members for publicly airing their grievances with the media in an apparent response the fallout from DA Leader John Steenhuisen asking President Cyril Ramaphosa to axe Dion George as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).

The public spat ensued follows reports that George lost his ministerial post after he refused a request by Steenhuisen, the DA leader, to be demoted to a deputy ministerial post.

Steenhuisen purportedly wanted George to serve as deputy minister of trade, industry and competition. George’s axing is believed to be due to not only poor performance but also unprofessional behaviour and his international trips.

Steenhuisen then had Willie Aucamp, one of the DA’s two national spokespeople, appointed as the new minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment.

George, who is the federal chairperson of the DA’s finance affairs, has not turned the other cheek and has lashed back after it emerged that he accused Steenhuisen of abusing his official party credit card by using it to buy takeaways, among other things.

Other reports have also alleged Steenhuisen’s poor management of his finances, reporting that the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court issued a default judgment against him in May 2025 for nearly R150,000 in unpaid personal credit card debt.

George allegedly stopped the DA credit card used by Steenhuisen because transactions were made that were not for party purposes.

This apparently includes orders on the Uber Eats food delivery service for Steenhuisen’s family, as well as other household expenses. George said the credit card may only be used for “business expenses as [party] leader” such as meals with donors and Uber ride-hailing services for party affairs.

After the public tit-for-tat spat, Zille said the Democratic Alliance’s Federal Executive met on Sunday night to discuss a formal response to the continuing public airing of matters relating to a dispute between senior office bearers of the party.

“The Fedex resolved to refer the matter to the party’s Federal Legal Commission to institute a full investigation into the issues involved, focusing on alleged violations of the DA’s constitution and rules in the genesis and progression of this dispute.

“The Fedex also issued an injunction to everyone involved, either directly or peripherally, to stop prosecuting their arguments through the media, and allow the party’s processes to take their course,” Zille said.