ANC calls for an investigation into alleged ‘DA corruption and state capture’

The African National Congress (ANC) said damning allegations by former DA leader John Steenhuisen warrant an investigation into the Democratic Alliance (DA).

On Sunday, 29 June 2026, News24 published an interview with Steenhuisen, which contained serious allegations against many party stalwarts.

Steenhuisen, who serves as South Africa’s Agriculture Minister, took aim at DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis and former leader Tony Leon.

He said he was promised that if he stepped down as leader of the DA, he would remain as Agriculture Minister to finish his work against FMD.

“The deal was that I would stand down as leader, but that I would remain on as Minister of Agriculture. A word was given, and a word was broken,” he said.

He also accused Resolve Communications, a PR firm run by former DA leader Tony Leon, of driving a campaign against him and his chief of staff.

“A company chaired by a former DA leader and led by a former DA CEO was pivotal in criticising me and my chief of staff, relentlessly driving public narratives,” he said.

However, the most concerning part of the interview was that he said that Leon’s firm used the DA’s cabinet ministers for financial benefit.

He said that Resolve Communications regularly used its political proximity to the DA to approach him and other Government of National Unity (GNU) cabinet ministers.

Steenhuisen said that they were approached to facilitate meetings on behalf of their private corporate clients.

He found this behaviour highly concerning, given how close the firm’s leadership is to the DA itself. He flagged it internally to the party caucus as a major ethical risk.

Resolve Communications rejected these accusations as mischaracterisations, falsehoods and distortions.

ANC wants an investigation into the DA

The ANC released a statement, calling the allegations by former DA leader John Steenhuisen damning.

It argued that it pointed to attempts by Tony Leon, in cahoots with former DA’s CEO Paul Boughey, to capture the state.

“These allegations raise important questions about ethical governance, accountability and the assault on the integrity of democratic institutions,” the ANC said.

“These are matters that deserve to be addressed openly and transparently in the interests of maintaining public confidence in government.”

The ANC said that the Democratic Alliance has sought to frame corruption as a phenomenon primarily associated with black-led governments.

“The DA projected administrations under its control as inherently more ethical and accountable,” the party said.

The ANC said that the latest allegations, now before the public, come from a former leader of the Democratic Alliance and a senior public representative.

“They therefore warrant the same level of scrutiny and accountability that the DA has consistently demanded of others,” the ANC said.

“The ANC believes that no political party, public representative or sphere of government should be insulated from transparent public accountability.”

“The fight against corruption must be principled, impartial and applied without fear or favour,” it added.

It called for an independent investigation to establish all the facts and determine whether any laws, ethical obligations or governance standards have been breached.

“All relevant institutions must be allowed to perform their constitutional responsibilities without interference or political favour,” it said.

“There cannot be one standard of accountability for black-led organisations and another for the Democratic Alliance.”

ActionSA also calls for an investigation into the matter

Lerato Ngobeni, ActionSA’s parliamentary chief whip, shared the ANC’s view that there should be an investigation into the allegations.

“ActionSA requests President Cyril Ramaphosa to institute an urgent investigation into explosive allegations made by John Steenhuisen,” she said.

“Reeking of textbook state capture, these allegations raise serious questions about the integrity of the executive.”

She said it sounds like politically connected commercial interests were afforded privileged access to GNU Ministers.

“The President has a constitutional obligation to assure South Africans that Cabinet decision-making remains free from any undue and irregular influence,” she said.

She asked Ramaphosa to institute an independent investigation into the allegations made by Steenhuisen.

He must also refer the matter to the Public Service Commission to determine whether standards of ethical governance and executive administration were compromised.

She further wants the Public Protector to investigate whether any GNU member of the Executive may have breached the Executive Ethics Code.

This is related to granting privileged access or preferential treatment to a politically connected lobbying firm acting on behalf of private clients.

“If these allegations are unfounded, they should be publicly disproved. If they are true, South Africans deserve to know,” she said.