Helen Zille opens up about John Steenhuisen

Former DA leader Helen Zille said that John Steenhuisen’s scathing comments about the party are not helpful, and it came after he was hurt by Tony Leon.

Zille shared her views on Steenhuisen, who said that Leon used his political influence to benefit his company, Resolve Communications, during a State of the Nation podcast.

Steenhuisen alleged that DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis broke his promise that he would remain as Agriculture Minister.

He also accused Resolve Communications and Leon of unethical lobbying and of launching a campaign to remove him as minister.

Other political parties, including the ANC and ActionSA, capitalised on the public infighting to paint the DA in a negative light.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said it resembles state capture, and ActionSA said it was a textbook state capture scenario within the Government of National Unity (GNU).

ActionSA requested that Ramaphosa institute an independent investigation into Steenhuisen’s claims.

Zille told State of the Nation that it’s not state capture. “Anyone who calls it state capture doesn’t understand what state capture is. They haven’t got a clue,” she said.

This does not mean that it is not damaging. “It’s very unhelpful. John had a saying: ‘You must never, ever bomb your own boats.’ It’s ironic in the circumstances.

She explained that she was no longer part of any national structures or leadership position of the Democratic Alliance.

However, she still shared her view on the fallout between John Steenhuisen and Tony Leon, which played out publicly.

“Tony and John were very good friends. Tony was John’s mentor, and they worked very closely together,” she said.

“However, John was deeply hurt that Tony took on a client who was trying to get John to change his policy on foot-and-mouth disease.”

“John then blamed Tony and wanted to get his revenge. That’s the context. If you see it in that context, it doesn’t excuse it, but it makes more sense.”