Helen Zille responds to Dion George’s resignation

Democratic Alliance Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille said that it’s “a shame” the party’s head of finance, Dion George, resigned before an investigation against him could be completed. 

George announced his resignation from the party as well as chairperson of the DA’s financial affairs in an interview with eNCA on January 15, following his removal as minister and infighting between him and party leader John Steenhuisen.

“It is unfortunate that Dr George has resigned before answering a pending disciplinary before the DA’s Federal Legal Commission,” Zille said in a statement. 

She said that the allegations against Dion George include:

• That staff appointments to his ministerial office were done in a way that unjustifiably raised their salaries, at public expense;
• That staff in his ministry sought departmental information to pursue internal party political matters; and
• That he brought the party into disrepute through the media.

“It would have been preferable for Dr George to go through the FLC process to test the veracity of these allegations,” Zille said. 

She added that the Federal Executive will make a decision on how to proceed with the rest of the investigation on Monday. 

“We wish Dr. George well in his future endeavours,” said Zille.

George said that the party’s investigation has already been tainted by an attempted cover-up of Steenhuisen’s misuse of party funds. He said this was the final straw for him, and ultimately led to his resignation. 

“The DA deserves a leader of the highest calibre. The DA’s Federal Legal Commission (FLC) whitewash of Steenhuisen’s credit card misuse was the final straw for me,” said George in a statement.

“The FLC report submitted this week is a reflection of what the party has become under failed leadership.”

He announced the cancellation of his party membership and his resignation today in a broadcast on eNCA.

DA investigation ongoing

This follows a widely publicised feud with Steenhuisen after he was removed from his position as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. 

“The situation has become intolerable. I’m being pushed out and it is no longer feasible for me to remain in the party,” George told eNCA. 

George’s resignation closely followed Zille’s January 12 statement, in which she announced the conclusion of an initial investigation into both Steenhuisen and George. 

Zille said that the expenses in question had been “adequately explained and reimbursed.”

The chairperson of the federal council said that “the report found that the expenditure on the card had been fully reconciled,” and “ that there was no prima facie evidence of misappropriation.”

George says that this “is not possible.” He said that the only way the expenses could be fully reconciled is by cooking the books. 

“This matter requires a full and independent forensic investigation that is disclosed to the DA’s voters and donors before the upcoming DA conference in April.”

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 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.”