The DA’s top executive structure on Monday closed ranks around party leader John Steenhuisen, supporting the findings of a report that cleared him of allegations of abusing a party credit card.
The federal executive (FedEx), sought to contain a scandal that had begun to threaten Steenhuisen’s leadership, with party powerbrokers ultimately choosing to protect their leader, neutralise a growing internal revolt, and declare the credit card controversy closed on the strength of a legal report that cleared him of misappropriation.
High-ranking sources within the DA’s FedEx confirmed that during a crucial meeting on Monday, January 12, the FedEx largely accepted the findings of a preliminary report presented by Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach, the chairperson of the federal legal commission (FLC), the party’s internal disciplinary body.
The investigation was initiated after former DA federal finance chairman Dion George made explosive claims that Steenhuisen had abused the party credit card for personal use, including for food deliveries on the Uber Eats platform.
However, Breytenbach’s report cleared Steenhuisen of the allegations, finding that all spending was fully reconciled and no misappropriation had occurred.
The move comes at a delicate moment for the party – now in the government of national unity – and marks one of the DA’s most public crises in years, with senior leaders opting to contain the fallout rather than let it fracture the organisation.
But one insider insisted that the bombshell allegations made by George were blown out of proportion.
While the former minister of environment, forestry and fisheries claimed the card was blocked due to irreconcilable spending, the source painted a very different picture of the situation. “There were only two instances where the party’s credit card was used for Uber Eats transactions,” the source revealed. “The first one was reversed immediately. The second one was a negligible amount, and John repaid it himself.”
The FedEx member, who asked not to be named, added that it was actually Steenhuisen who decided to give the credit card back voluntarily.
He now pays for his own work expenses out of his pocket and claims the money back later to avoid any further issues.
Helen Zille, the chairperson of the DA federal council, also threw her weight behind the FLC findings. Despite her “frosty” relationship with Steenhuisen, the two leaders appear united in their stance against George.
Zille, who is often seen as one of the most powerful and critical voices within the party, issued a statement in her name rather than through a party spokesperson.
She said it was “unfortunate” that George, who was recently axed as the minister of forestry, fisheries, and the environment, decided to resign this past Thursday instead of facing an internal hearing.
George had faced accusations of “spying” on party rivals and mismanaging staff salaries.
The fallout reached its peak on Thursday when George officially ended his 31-year membership with the DA.
In his resignation, he didn’t hold back, alleging that Steenhuisen’s “personal financial vulnerabilities” have made him beholden to the ANC and President Cyril Ramaphosa.
George repeated his claim that Steenhuisen had abused the party card.
“Steenhuisen’s personal financial vulnerability leaves the DA with a leader who cannot challenge the ANC in the GNU, who is willing to throw countless loyal hard-working DA leaders like me to the wolves when they stand up for DA members and South Africa’s interests.”
Zille said the party had found that expenditure on the card had been fully reconciled, and there was no evidence of misappropriation.
Steenhuisen declined to comment.
