Trouble in the DA as John Steenhuisen faces allegations of cadre deployment
Former Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Dr Dion George, said the decision of the party's leader, John Steenhuisen, to replace him with Willie Aucamp, is tantamount to cadre deployment.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is facing fresh internal controversy after former Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Dr Dion George, accused party leader John Steenhuisen of orchestrating ministerial changes for personal and political gain.
George claims Steenhuisen’s actions — including his removal from Cabinet and the appointment of Willie Aucamp as his successor — amount to “cadre deployment” intended to protect certain commercial interests, notably within the captive lion breeding and hunting sector.
These allegations are outlined in an 85-page affidavit George submitted to the Public Protector. In it, he contends that Steenhuisen interfered with the DFFE’s mandate, failed to disclose personal commercial interests, and bypassed proper procedures to advance his own political objectives.
George has also requested that the Public Protector investigate Aucamp for undisclosed conflicts of interest, the withdrawal of South Africa’s proposal to tighten abalone trade rules at the 2025 CITES conference, and the failure to renew a task team responsible for phasing out captive lion breeding.
The dispute comes ahead of the DA’s elective congress in April, where Steenhuisen is expected to seek a third term as party leader. According to George, the reshuffle and Aucamp’s appointment were designed to consolidate Steenhuisen’s influence and favour individuals aligned with his personal and commercial interests.
Steenhuisen has dismissed the allegations as “flimsy fabrications” and a “revenge attempt” following George’s removal for alleged poor performance. Both men are currently under investigation by the DA’s Federal Legal Commission (FLC).
George said he first became aware of Steenhuisen’s intentions through media reports and that he was not facing any disciplinary processes at the time of his removal. He accused Steenhuisen of encroaching on other ministerial portfolios to advance narrow interests, undermining departmental independence, and threatening South Africa’s natural heritage and institutional integrity.
“Minister Steenhuisen’s interference in the independence of stand-alone ministerial roles is tantamount to cadre deployment,” George said. “It also appears to be an effort to purge the DA of those who oppose him, while undermining the Constitution.”
Aucamp, meanwhile, denied any involvement in the captive lion breeding industry, saying he and his family operate in the broader game farming sector. He also filed a complaint with the Public Protector in December 2025 against George, alleging misuse of departmental resources to investigate his private business affairs.
Steenhuisen’s office, via agriculture spokesperson Joylene Van Wyk, said George exceeded his mandate by making unilateral decisions relating to wildlife ranching and animal production, which fall under the Department of Agriculture’s legislative umbrella. “I repeatedly advised Dr George to consult my department on these matters,” Van Wyk said, describing his failure to do so as “uncollegial and unhelpful.”
DA spokesperson Jan de Villiers confirmed that the FLC has investigated the issues raised in George’s affidavit and will submit its findings to the party’s federal executive for consideration.
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