John Steenhuisen paid back the money

The Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Executive Committee has concluded its investigation into allegations made by party finance head Dion George against Federal Leader John Steenhuisen. 

George accused Steenhuisen of violating the DA’s constitution and roles in November. He said that Steenhuisen used the party’s credit card to pay for Uber Eats food delivery and household expenses. 

The Federal Legal Commission (FLC) investigated the allegations that Steenhuisen misappropriated party funds through his party-issued credit card.

The investigation, led by Glynnis Breytenbach, Chairperson of the Federal Legal Commission, found that a “limited number of personal expenses” were paid for using the DA card. 

However, the chairperson of the DA’s Federal Executive, Helen Zille, said that these expenses had been “adequately explained and reimbursed.”

Zille added that “the report found that the expenditure on the card had been fully reconciled,” and “ that there was no prima facie evidence of misappropriation.”

While the matter of misappropriating party funding was resolved, Zille said that a disciplinary inquiry will be instituted to determine whether either or both Steenhuisen or George violated sections of the DA’s federal constitution.

The two senior DA officials are now being accused of bringing the DA into disrepute, reflecting negatively on the party and undermining internal cooperation. 

“The DA takes all allegations of impropriety against its public representations very seriously,” Zille said. “We will continue to hold all our representatives to account for their conduct in public life.”

Tit for tat

This was after George aired his complaints against Steenhuisen to the media, starting a widely publicised feud.

In his latest attack, George submitted an 84-page affidavit to the Public Protector, accusing Steenhuisen of abusing his multiple roles. 

This was as DA leader, Minister of Agriculture, and GNU negotiator, to allegedly orchestrate George’s removal from cabinet in November 2025 under false pretenses.

George claims Steenhuisen replaced him with current Minister Willie Aucamp because Aucamp’s family allegedly benefits from the lucrative captive lion breeding and hunting industry — a sector George had actively worked to phase out during his tenure.

Steenhuisen has dismissed the allegations as “flimsy fabrications” and a “gross misunderstanding of mandates.”

In response to George’s original allegations, Steenhuisen said that the former minister is just “bitter” after he was removed from his position as head of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. 

“As I have said many times before, if he has proof of wrongdoing, then he must provide that to the FLC of the party,” Steenhuisen told Rapport.

“He will, however, have to explain why he has never done so before his removal, which clearly exposes this as a revenge attempt,” he said. 

George, however, insists he submitted the complaint before he was removed. He was replaced by former party spokesperson Willie Aucamp.