Steenhuisen accused of using state resources to purge his political opponents

THE DA leader John Steenhuisen has been accused of applying ‘ANC tactics’ to purge his political opponents ahead of the party’s elective conference next year.

- WILLEM PHUNGULA

DA LEADER John Steenhuisen, who is also Agriculture Minister, is in a fierce public war with his fellow Federal Executive (FedEx) leader Dion George. | TIMOTHY BERNARD Independent Newspapers

(TIMOTHY BERNARD Independent Newspapers)

Steenhuisen, who is also Agriculture Minister, is in a fierce public war with his fellow Federal Executive (FedEx) and a senior party leader, Dion George. The DA leader had made a request to President Cyril Ramaphosa for George to be dismissed as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment.

Steenhuisen also asked that George be replaced by Willem Aucamp, who has since been appointed. George is the federal chairperson responsible for the party’s finances.

Although FedEx cited poor performance as a reason for asking Ramaphosa to sack George, political analyst Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast said a factional battle is playing out in the DA ahead of next year’s party conference.