Dion George’s resignation exposes growing fault lines inside the DA

Dion George’s resignation exposes growing fault lines inside the DA

The Democratic Alliance is once again facing uncomfortable questions about unity and leadership, this time sparked by the dramatic exit of one of its longest-serving figures.

Dion George’s decision to resign from both Parliament and the DA has landed like a thunderclap inside opposition politics, exposing a party wrestling with internal tension at a time when it is meant to project stability within South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU).

George’s departure has split political opinion. Some see it as a serious loss that weakens the DA’s credibility and internal cohesion. Others argue the party’s leadership will absorb the shock and carry on largely unchanged. What is clear, however, is that this was no quiet exit.

A relationship that finally snapped

George’s DA membership stretches back to 1995, making him one of the party’s most seasoned figures. His resignation followed a very public and increasingly bitter clash with party leader John Steenhuisen, a conflict that has been simmering for months but finally boiled over this week.

Alongside leaving Parliament, George also stepped down as the DA’s federal chairperson of finance. He says his political marginalisation began when he was removed from Cabinet in November 2025, a move he insists was driven by his own party.

According to George, his replacement by DA spokesperson Willie Aucamp marked the start of what he describes as a coordinated effort to sideline him from leadership structures.

Learning through the headlines

One of the most striking details in George’s account is how he claims to have learned of his political fate. He says he discovered the decision to remove him as minister through media reports while attending COP30 in Brazil an experience he has described as humiliating and emblematic of deeper dysfunction within the party.

In his most explosive claims, George has accused the DA leadership of being “captured” by ANC and criminal interests, alleging that a smear campaign was launched to justify his removal.

He has also taken aim at the DA’s role in the GNU, arguing that the party has lost its backbone by supporting ANC-led budgets and policies, a criticism that echoes frustrations expressed by some DA supporters on social media, who worry the party is becoming too accommodating in coalition politics.

Financial allegations and counterclaims

George has gone further, accusing Steenhuisen of mismanaging party funds and calling for an independent forensic investigation into the DA’s credit card usage. He dismissed the findings of the party’s Federal Legal Commission (FLC) as a “whitewash,” raising the stakes in an already fraught standoff.

The DA leadership has firmly rejected these claims. Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille confirmed that George resigned before answering to pending disciplinary allegations, including claims of salary abuse, political interference and bringing the party into disrepute.

Zille said the FLC process would continue despite his resignation and described the situation as unfortunate, while wishing George well in his future endeavours.

What this means for the DA

Political analysts remain divided on the long-term impact. Independent analyst Goodenough Mashego describes George’s exit as a blow, but not a destabilising one.

He argues that while the loss of a senior figure matters symbolically, it is unlikely to weaken Steenhuisen’s leadership or Helen Zille’s influence within the party. From this perspective, the DA’s machinery will continue to function, with replacements appointed and the broader political project moving forward.

Still, the episode has reopened a familiar debate around the DA: how it manages dissent, balances internal power, and maintains discipline among senior leaders.

For a party positioning itself as a stable alternative to ANC dominance, the optics of public infighting are far from ideal. Whether this moment becomes a brief disruption or a warning sign of deeper fractures may depend on how the DA handles the fallout and whether it can convincingly close ranks after yet another high-profile rupture.

{Source: IOL}

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