By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) highest decision-making body, held an urgent meeting last night, 23 November 2025, to discuss the dispute between the two party senior officials.
The party resolved to refer the internal dispute between party leader John Steenhuisen and recently removed Minister Dion George to the party’s Federal Legal Commission to institute a full investigation, with particular focus on alleged violations of the DA’s constitution.
Chairperson of the DA’s Federal Executive, Helen Zille, said that the party discussed its formal response to the matters and resolved to refer the matter to the Federal Legal Commission for a full investigation.
George has accused Steenhuisen of violating the DA’s constitution and rules.
“The Fedex also issued an injunction to everyone involved, either directly or peripherally, to stop prosecuting their arguments through the media, and allow the party’s processes to take their course,” said Zille.
The fallout after George’s axing as minister of Forestry and Environmental Affairs has seen both camps at loggerheads, with accusations flying back and forth in the media.
The official narrative as to why Steenhuisen wanted to remove George has been murky from the start.
Initially, it was reported that it was because Steenhuisen wanted to use George’s background in finance and his dual US citizenship to the GNU’s advantage in the post of deputy minister of trade, industry and competition — a position George declined.
George, who has held senior roles in the DA since 2005 without seeming to attract adverse reporting until now, has since been accused of bullying and “psychologically intimidating” staff, undertaking too frequent international trips and, most recently, speaking ill of his colleagues and sexual misconduct.
Steenhuisen said, he had received a list of these complaints against George, although Zille, was quoted as saying: “No complaints ever reached me”.
George has strenuously denied the charges.
It is also unclear why, if Steenhuisen decided to remove George, at least in part, over these allegations of misconduct, he would nonetheless have wanted to retain George as his deputy trade and industry minister.
The reshuffle has recently been criticised by environmental groups.
Steenhuisen said, that George’s removal had anything to do with external pressure.
“The DA currently holds 12 positions within the national executive. It is therefore imperative that these roles are occupied by the most capable individuals our party has to offer,” he said.
Zille said the executive also issued an injunction to everyone involved, either directly or peripherally, to stop prosecuting their arguments through the media, and allow the party’s processes to take their course.