DA civil war explodes as Dion George walks out after bitter fallout with Steenhuisen
Former Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Dion George has resigned from the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Parliament, following a bitter public fallout with party leader John Steenhuisen.
Image: Independent Newspapers / IOL Graphics
Former Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Dion George has resigned from the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Parliament, following a bitter public fallout with party leader John Steenhuisen.
George announced his resignation during a sit-down interview with eNCA, where he read a statement outlining his reasons for leaving the party he joined in 1995.
He confirmed that he had written to the DA on Thursday to cancel his membership and had also stepped down as the party’s federal chairperson of finance and as a Member of Parliament.
“The situation has become intolerable. I am being pushed out and it is no longer feasible for me to remain in the party,” George said.
His resignation comes after he was removed as minister in November at the DA’s request and replaced by party spokesperson Willie Aucamp.
George said he learned through the media on November 7, 2025, that Steenhuisen had written to President Cyril Ramaphosa requesting his removal while he was representing South Africa at COP30 in Brazil.
George said his attorneys had repeatedly requested documents relating to his removal, but received neither the documents nor written explanations.
He also claimed he was issued with a gag order by the party on November 24, 2025, after defending himself publicly.
“This did not apply to others, such as Willie Aucamp and John Steenhuisen, who both continued to attack me without any response or support from the party,” he said.
George accused Steenhuisen of capturing the DA on behalf of the African National Congress (ANC) and criminal interests, leaving the party “muzzled” and unable to lead in South Africa’s interests.
He said he had supported the DA’s decision to join the Government of National Unity (GNU), despite concerns the party could be swallowed by the ANC, believing it was in the national interest.
However, he argued that this required skilful and principled leadership.
“Instead, Steenhuisen as the DA leader has been captured because of his personal financial vulnerabilities,” George said.
He said he had submitted a detailed complaint to the Public Protector, alleging Steenhuisen abused his position under the influence of criminal interests to engineer his removal as minister.
George said he refused to bow to pressure from the ANC, illicit wildlife traffickers and the captive lion industry, and that a smear campaign was launched to obscure the real reasons for his removal.
He denied claims that he rejected a post as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, saying the role was never formally offered.
He said he frequently clashed with ANC leaders Gwede Mantashe and Kgosientsho Ramokgopa over mining appeals and emissions, and accused Steenhuisen of favouring co-option over accountability.
George further criticised the DA for supporting ANC-backed budgets under the GNU, including those of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, which he said undermined South Africa’s interests and perpetuated race-based laws.
A major point of contention was Steenhuisen’s use of the DA’s credit card.
George alleged that, as chairperson of federal finance, he withdrew the card in March 2025 after discovering serious financial irregularities that could not be reconciled.
He rejected findings by the DA’s Federal Legal Commission, which cleared Steenhuisen of wrongdoing earlier this week, describing the report as a “whitewash” and calling for an independent forensic investigation ahead of the party’s April conference.
“The only way a ‘full reconciliation’ could occur is by subsequently cooking the books,” George said.
The DA has previously denied any financial misconduct, saying the credit card expenditure was fully reconciled. The party’s federal committee has ordered an inquiry into whether the public dispute brought the party into disrepute.
George said South Africa had lost its way economically and diplomatically under the GNU, citing the government’s failure to secure favourable trade terms with the United States.
“If South Africa is going to be a healthy democracy, the country needs a strong, clear, uncaptured voice,” he said.
“The DA could have been that voice. It still has one final shot to make a vital change in April - and it had better not miss it.”
The DA confirmed the resignation and in a statement issued on Monday, the party expressed regret that George stepped down before facing the Federal Legal Commission (FLC) to respond to a series of serious allegations.
The accusations include claims that staff appointments within his ministerial office led to unjustified salary increases at taxpayers' expense. He is also alleged to have used ministry staff to access departmental information for internal party purposes. Additionally, the party cites concerns over conduct that allegedly brought the DA into disrepute via media engagements.
The DA noted that it would have preferred George to remain in the party and subject himself to the FLC inquiry, to properly test the merits of the allegations.
Despite his departure, the party confirmed that the disciplinary process would continue as scheduled, following directives from the Federal Executive.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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