Steenhuisen accused of using Ramaphosa to target DA political foes in government

A POWER struggle is believed to be at the centre of a tense stand-off between DA leader John Steenhuisen and Federal Executive (FedEx) and senior party member Dion George.

Steenhuisen is believed to have engineered George’s dismissal as a Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment by president Cyril Ramaphosa, who replaced him with Willem Aucamp at Steenhuisen’s request. George is Federal chairperson responsible for the party's finances.

Although the FedEx cited poor performance as a reason for asking Ramaphosa to sack George, political analyst Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast said a factional battle is playing out in the DA ahead of next year’s party conference.

Breakfast said it was ironic that Steenhuisen was employing the ANC’s tactics 'of using state resources to fight political battles' - something which Steenhuisen had criticised in the past.

“Steenhuisen is purging those he feels are not supporting his campaign to get re-elected in next year’s conference. It is interesting that Steenhuisen is using state resources to fight his political battles, and particularly using Ramaphosa as his messenger to get rid of his political opponents,” said Breakfast.

George is believed to have leaked Steenhuisen’s personal financial problems to the media. 

The Agriculture Minister has reportedly been slapped with a default judgment for failing to pay R150,000 accumulated on his personal credit card. He allegedly used the party credit cards to purchase food items for his family. George also blocked the card, in his capacity as the party’s “treasurer”.

The fallout between the two senior leaders forced the Chairperson of the Federal Executive, Helen Zille to intervene with a gag directive following the party’s special meeting on Sunday where the issue was discussed.

In a statement Zille issued after the meeting, Zille said 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,” read the statement.

George said that he is not permitted to 'comment at this stage' while attempts to reach Steenhuisen were unsuccessful.

His media secretary Charity McCord made reference to Zille's  statement citing an agreement that there will be no further public engagement on the matter.

Cape Times