DA heavyweight accuses Steenhuisen of cadre deployment

AXED Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Dr Dion George believes that DA leader John Steenhuisen’s decision to have him removed from the government was to protect specific commercial interests, specifically of the captive lion breeding and hunting industry.

This is contained in George’s affidavit submitted to the Public Protector. George wants the Public Protector to investigate Steenhuisen’s “unlawful interference with the DFFE’s mandate and functions, his removal and appointment of Aucamp, as well as his failure to disclose his personal commercial interests and his conflict of interest".

Goerge too faces a public protector probe after his successor Willie Aucamp lodged a complaint against him. 

George claims that Aucamp's appointment suited Steenhuisen’s personal and commercial political objectives. 

He also called for investigations into Aucamp for alleged undisclosed conflicts of interest, the withdrawal of a South African proposal to tighten abalone trade rules at the 2025 CITES conference, and the failure to renew a task team aimed at phasing out captive lion breeding.

George said Steenhuisen, as the DA leader and as a GNU negotiator, 'is abusing his power to advance his own political agenda, which serves his own interests, and not those of the DA nor South Africa'. 

He said this includes an encroachment into other ministerial departments, to dilute their independence and objectivity to advance singular commercial interests, which carries significant risk to South Africa’s natural heritage and “our reputation as a country".  

“Minister Steenhuisen’s direct attack on the independence of Ministerial roles in stand-alone departments is tantamount to cadre deployment.  It is further a concerted effort to purge the DA of Steenhuisen objectors, while undermining the Constitution,” read the affidavit.

George said this started when Steenhuisen allegedly requested him to meet and cooperate with captive breeders. He said this was articulated as a demand rather than a request. 

He alleged that Steenhuisen made this request with the agenda of ingratiating himself into the industry as Minister of Agriculture. 

“Steenhuisen suggested to me that captive wildlife should be the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, and that I would then not be concerned about the pressure on me, from the captive breeding industry, if this would be accepted,” said George. 

He said the direct link between Steenhuisen and political ambitions in this sector is amplified by his choice of Aucamp. 

Before his removal, George (as the DA's Federal Finance Chair) reportedly revoked Steenhuisen’s access to a party-issued credit card due to unreconciled personal expenses.

Steenhuisen has dismissed George's claims as "flimsy fabrications" and a "revenge attempt" following his removal for alleged poor performance. Both leaders are currently under investigation by the DA's Federal Legal Commission (FLC).

Steenhuisen stated the change was necessary to “advance the urgent reform agenda” and ensure the most capable individuals represent the party. 

However, George alleged that Steenhuisen had fired him from his position under false pretences in favour of Aucamp, whose family allegedly benefits from the lucrative trade in lion hunting.

Steenhuisen, through his Agriculture spokesperson, Joylene Van Wyk, said George was exceeding his mandate by making decisions relating to wildlife ranching and animal production of declared agriculture products without consultation or seeking any input, opinion, or advice from the Ministry of Agriculture. 

“This I found uncollegial and unhelpful, given the fact that we were colleagues from the same political party. I had on numerous occasions urged Dr George that he should consult my department and ministry when it came to decisions relating to wildlife ranching and animal production, given the huge mandate in these sectors that fell under the legislative umbrella and executive mandate of the Department of Agriculture,” he said. 

Aucamp on Sunday denied the allegations, saying he is not a member of any hunting organisation. He said he and his family are in the game farming industry with no links to the captive lion breeding sector at all. 

“Dr George’s allegations that my family or I are involved in the lion breeding industry are untrue and fabricated,” said Aucamp.

Cape Times