News on this topic
Dion George fired: Ramaphosa appoints Willie Aucamp as environment minister: DA leader John Steenhuisen insists that George’s removal is ‘not due to external ...
mg.co.za/the-green-guardian/2025-11-13-dion-george-fired-ramaphosa-appoints-willie-aucamp-as-environment-minister/
Dion George fired: Ramaphosa appoints Willie Aucamp as environment ...
More articles on this subject
Steenhuisen dismisses suggestions he asked Ramaphosa to boot George due to alleged underperformance
ewn.co.za/2025/11/13/steenhuisen-dismisses-suggestions-he-asked-ramaphosa-to-boot-george-as-environment-minister
Steenhuisen dismisses suggestions he asked Ramaphosa to boot George due to ...
Wildlife Forum opposes Willem Aucamp's appointment as Forestry Minister citing conflict of interest
iol.co.za/news/politics/2025-11-13-wildlife-forum-opposes-willem-aucamps-appointment-as-forestry-minister-citing-conflict-of-interest/
Wildlife Forum opposes Willem Aucamp's appointment as Forestry Minister ...
GNU cabinet shake-up: Dion George out, Willie Aucamp and Alexandra Abrahams step in
ewn.co.za/2025/11/12/gnu-cabinet-shake-up-dion-george-out-willie-aucamp-and-alexandra-abrahams-step-in
GNU cabinet shake-up: Dion George out, Willie Aucamp and Alexandra ...
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Tony Leon's silence fuels Resolve scandal as squeaky clean DA image ripped apart: Under fire from all sides, Tony Leon's lobbying firm has zipped its lips.
iol.co.za/news/2026-07-11-tony-leons-silence-fuels-resolve-scandal-as-squeaky-clean-da-image-ripped-apart/
Tony Leon's silence fuels Resolve scandal as squeaky clean DA image ripped ...
Key FactsAffidavit alleges Leon sought PR work from metros
Jul 5, 2026 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za
  • A former senior Tshwane employee alleges in an affidavit that Leon sought municipal tenders in 2017.

  • Mmusi Maimane says Leon asked Johannesburg’s then-mayor Herman Mashaba in 2016 to support a business relationship; Mashaba declined.

  • Leon denies wrongdoing, saying the meeting with Msimanga produced no contracts for Resolve Communications.

  • Cape Town said it had since ended its relationship with Resolve Communications, which served the city during the 2018 drought.
Dion George hits out at Steenhuisen, calls him ‘financially vulnerable’: Ex-DA finance chair alleges cover-up in party’s credit card controversy
sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/politics/2026-01-16-dion-george-hits-out-at-steenhuisen-calls-him-financially-vulnerable/
Dion George hits out at Steenhuisen, calls him ‘financially vulnerable’
MK Party demands Hawks probe DA Ministers over lion bone trade allegations: Amid allegations of unethical conduct, the MK Party calls on the Hawks to probe DA ...
iol.co.za/news/politics/2026-01-16-mk-party-demands-hawks-probe-da-ministers-over-lion-bone-trade-allegations/
MK Party demands Hawks probe DA Ministers over lion bone trade allegations
DA infighting escalates as Aucamp reports George to Public Protector for ‘possible abuse of state resources’
dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-12-29-da-infighting-escalates-as-aucamp-reportp-reports-george-to-public-protector-for/
DA infighting escalates as Aucamp reports George to Public Protector for ...
Key FactsDA Turmoil Grows Over State Resource Misuse Claims
Dec 30, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: dailymaverick.co.za
  • Minister Willie Aucamp reported his predecessor Dion George to the Public Protector for alleged misuse of state resources.

  • The complaint also targets George’s former adviser Shelton Mollentze and personal assistant Traverse le Goff.

  • Internal divisions in the DA are intensifying and may undermine party leadership ahead of the 2026 elective congress.

  • The Public Protector is assessing the complaint while the party’s federal legal commission has launched its own investigation.
  • The use of state resources for personal or political purposes is unlawful, and an investigation by the Public Protector will determine whether any such abuse occurred.
    — Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Willie Aucamp in a statement regarding his complaint to the Public Protector.
DA leaders accused of using state resources amid internal strife: Amid escalating tensions, the DA faces accusations of hypocrisy as its leaders are implicated ...
iol.co.za/news/south-africa/2025-12-29-da-leaders-accused-of-using-state-resources-amid-internal-strife/
DA leaders accused of using state resources amid internal strife
Watch – Why did the DA decide to fire its Environment Minister Dion George?: When John Steenhuisen abruptly removed Environment Minister Dion George and replaced ...
dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-28-watch-why-did-the-da-decide-to-fire-its-environment-minister-dion-george/
Watch – Why did the DA decide to fire its Environment Minister Dion ...
Axed Environment Minister Dion George suing for millions for defamation: Dion George has broken his silence with a statement expressing the belief that he was ...
dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-21-axed-environment-minister-dion-george-suing-for-millions-for-defamation/
Axed Environment Minister Dion George suing for millions for defamation
Steenhuisen’s finances under scrutiny as fallout over axed Dion George continues: DA leader John Steenhuisen finds himself in hot water over financial woes and a ...
dailymaverick.co.za/article/big-spending-steenhuisen-faces-scrutiny-as-da-fallout-over-axed-dion-george-continues/
Steenhuisen’s finances under scrutiny as fallout over axed Dion George ...
Key FactsAgriculture Minister Faces Financial and Security Concerns
Nov 20, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: iol.co.za
  • John Steenhuisen, Agriculture Minister and DA leader, has a default judgment for almost R150,000 in unpaid credit card debt.

  • He struggles with personal financial management despite earning over R2.6 million annually as a minister.

  • Experts warn that financial vulnerabilities in ministers can pose national security risks by increasing susceptibility to undue influence.

  • The president may need to consider Steenhuisen’s removal due to risks linked to his financial difficulties and security clearance.
  • A minister having financial problems raises national security issues.
    — Goodenough Mashego, an independent political analyst, expresses concerns about the security implications of ministers facing financial difficulties.
Steenhuisen’s finances under scrutiny as fallout over axed Dion George continues: In the aftermath of Dion George’s controversial axing as environment minister ...
dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-18-big-spending-steenhuisen-faces-scrutiny-as-da-fallout-over-axed-dion-george-continues/
Steenhuisen’s finances under scrutiny as fallout over axed Dion George ...
Environment Minister Dion George axed, despite ‘doing my job without fear, favour or prejudice’
dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-12-environment-minister-dion-george-axed-despite-doing-my-job-without-fear-favour-or-prejudice/
Environment Minister Dion George axed, despite ‘doing my job without fear ...
Key FactsControversial Environment Minister Dion George Removed
Nov 13, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: dailymaverick.co.za
  • President Ramaphosa dismissed Dion George from his role as Environment Minister and appointed Willie Aucamp as his successor.

  • George was leading South Africa’s delegation at COP30 and co-chairing the global Adaptation Committee.

  • His removal followed disputes over his strict policies against captive lion breeding and bone exports.

  • The move sparked outrage among conservationists who criticize Aucamp's close ties to hunting and breeding industries.
  • I’m doing my job without fear, favour or prejudice.
    — Dion George, the Environment Minister, reiterating his commitment to his role amidst political turmoil.
OpinionSteenhuisen’s lion bone gambit — firing the one minister who finally took on the wildlife trade
dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-09-steenhuisens-lion-bone-gambit-firing-the-one-minister-who-finally-took-on-the-wildlife-trade/
Steenhuisen’s lion bone gambit — firing the one minister who finally took ...