Democratic Alliance federal leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
Newly elected Democratic Alliance federal leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis, says he doesn't see as a problem DA officials receiving financial “top-ups”, saying what the party did with money it had fundraised was a DA matter and not an issue for public ventilation.
This follows a report leaked last month, seemingly authored by Dr Dion George, who was the party’s former federal finance chairperson, before he resigned in January following a public spat with former leader, John Steenhuisen.
The report notes that the Federal Executive (FedEx) requested a report in December 2025 detailing any payments, or “top-ups”, currently paid by the party to any public representatives.
The top-ups are considered by the Remuneration Sub-Committee, where “it is approved or not”, and in the event of an appeal of a non-approval, the Federal Finance Committee will consider the request.
“Any approval is reported to the Federal Finance Committee and to the Federal Executive. The Federal Executive can agree to end any top-up payment.”
The top-ups included payments to Steenhuisen, deputy Finance minister Ashor Sarupen and local government leaders Cilliers Brink and Chris Pappas.
Brink is paid “a gross (prior to tax deductions) amount of R62 386 per month, effective from 1 October 2024. This is the difference between the salary of a part-time Councillor in the City of Tshwane and that of the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane. In terms of his contract with the party, the amount is payable until Elections 2026.”
It also notes Steenhuisen received R39 560 per month from the party, in addition to having limited access to a party credit card. Sarupen and DA National Assembly House chairperson Werner Horn received an additional R50 000 per month for their duties as national and deputy elections campaign manager, respectively, which would continue until the 2026 local government elections.
Former DA leader John Steenhuisen.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
On Tuesday, at the announcement of the DA’s third tranche of mayoral candidates for the Western Cape, Hill-Lewis was speaking on the sidelines of the announcement when he was questioned about the top-ups, which he said would be discussed at a forthcoming FedEx meeting.
“But I don't see it as a problem at all. It's the DA's money that we've raised through fundraising. It's not, we would never, ever abuse State resources. And what we do with and how we choose to remunerate our senior office bearers is entirely a DA internal matter. It's actually not an issue for public ventilation.”
DA National Spokesperson, Jan de Villiers, had reiterated Hill-Lewis’s remarks.
Image: Parliament of RSA
DA National spokesperson, Jan de Villiers, had reiterated Hill-Lewis’s remarks when questioned outside Cape Town Police Station after he and two other MPs opened a criminal case against Social Development Minister, Sisi Tolashe.
“Our leader, quite eloquently, explained two days ago that it really is an internal party matter. You know, it's not taxpayer money that's being used. It’s DA funds that have been apparently used to top up certain office bearers for outside responsibilities that they have.
“And that really is up to the party,” said De Villiers. “My understanding is that there is a report that will feature at the federal executive committee that is produced by the Federal Finance Committee, and it'll explain who got what extra top-ups and, you know, decide on policy going forward.”
De Villiers explained that it is “not akin to corruption or the use of taxpayer money”.
“It's the DA’s money that's being used to reward people for extra work.”
He added that the DA is quite a big organisation, and this will prompt them to relook at their policies.
“We need to be prudent with the way we spend our own money, so part of this process with FedEx is to say, do we need to relook at some of our policies in terms of top-ups? Do we need to develop new policies? That will definitely be part of the conversation.
“I think what's clear is if there is any unhappiness (about this), it might be because there aren't transparent enough policies, which the party will now look at.
“As in anything where discretion is used, it's better when there is a clear guiding principle, a clear policy. And I think what the only thing this has really highlighted for us as a party is perhaps we need to be clearer in how we administer top-ups, but the principle of giving anybody extra remuneration for extra work is an honest and, I think, a good principle.”
Cape Times