DA infighting prompts Public Protector intervention

The Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) Willie Aucamp, current Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), has laid a complaint with the Public Protector against his predecessor, Dion George.

In a statement on 28 December, seen by City Press, Aucamp has requested an investigation into George’s conduct during his last days as minister.

Aucamp claims that George fabricated a whistleblower report, implicating the current minister in “illegal lion farming” to launch a departmental investigation against Aucamp and block him from taking on the position of minister.

George’s chief of staff, Shelton Mollentze, is also implicated in the complaint, alongside his personal assistant, Traverse Le Goff. Aucamp claims that Mollentze asked staff in the DFFE to open an investigation against him.

“Mollentze has apparently provided the employees of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment with a list of my farms and/or companies that needed to be investigated by them,” the Minister’s complaint reads.

This was warranted, according to Mollentze, by a report from a whistleblower claiming that lion facilities at these establishments do not comply with regulations.

Aucamp denies any involvement in lion farming or lion breeding and said that when Mollentze’s email was sent out, both he and George were aware that DA Leader John Steenhuisen had proposed Aucamp as George’s replacement.

When asked to provide the whistleblower report, Mollentze told Aucamp that he was no longer in possession of the document.

“That is very strange,” said Aucamp. “It would normally have been attached to the complaint that is filed.” Aucamp, therefore, does not believe that such a complaint exists. He is accusing George of abusing state resources.

Speaking to Rapport, George, who has been living in the United States since his removal, denied initiating an investigation against Aucamp and stated that he had not seen the whistleblower report.

He said claims that he abused state resources are “incorrect and untrue.” Mollentze further denied allegations of misconduct.

“The department receives many whistleblower complaints and tips from many different stakeholders, and we treat all of them with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity,” he said.

Former minister accused of misconduct

When the DA replaced George with Aucamp, environmental groups criticised the reshuffle, arguing that George was doing good work.

The EMS foundation, in its report, “Axing of Minister Dion George – The Democratic Alliance shows its True Colours,” said that George was fired for his activism. 

“When President Cyril Ramaphosa fired Dr Dion George as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the official explanation was carefully scripted: ‘under-performance,’” the foundation said. 

“But the timing, the political choreography and the beneficiaries tell a far more revealing story — one that exposes the growing influence of wildlife-breeding and trophy-hunting lobbies inside government.”

They further argue that Aucamp is “politically compromised” and said the DA is pushing a pro-trophy-hunting agenda that views wildlife as a commodity. 

Steenhuisen addressed these concerns to The Citizen, saying that George’s removal had nothing to do with external pressure. 

“The DA currently holds 12 positions within the national executive. It is therefore imperative that these roles are occupied by the most capable individuals our party has to offer,” he said. 

“People who bring integrity, energy and excellence to government. Collegiality is crucial.” George has recently clashed with Steenhuisen when he accused the leader of abusing party funding.

Meanwhile, the former minister has faced allegations of sexual misconduct and bullying through anonymous sources in the department, who spoke to News24. 

He said he plans to sue the media house for defamation and said the article was clearly a “smear campaign” against him.