Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Dion George. (Photo: Gallo Images / Misha Jordaan) 
Axed Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George is fighting back.
In a statement published on Friday, George announced his intention to sue for defamation after what he describes as a “smear campaign” carried via the media.
“The allegations against me are false and defamatory,” George wrote.
“The smear campaign that precipitated my dismissal—while I was representing South Africa at COP30 – was orchestrated to discredit strong environmental governance and to weaken resistance to organised crime. I am now pursuing legal action in South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States against News24 for defamation and I am seeking very significant damages.”
George told Daily Maverick on Friday that he was bringing the case in the UK and US as well as South Africa (SA) because those jurisdictions take defamation cases “very, very seriously”.
By contrast, defamation cases against South African media heard in South African courts have very rarely succeeded in the past.
George added that because News24’s holding company, Naspers, is a global business, he will be able to reach it from the overseas jurisdictions.
News24 editor Adriaan Basson told Daily Maverick that News24 has not received any notification from George of the legal challenge.
"We have given [George] ample opportunity to comment on stories regarding his departure. If he institutes any action against us, we will defend it."
Although George’s statement only made explicit mention of suing News24, there will also be other targets.
“I am going to be suing all of the people responsible for the smear campaign, because it is very clear where the campaign has been coming from,” he said.
George did not provide further details, but Daily Maverick understands that he is also likely to be targeting DA leader John Steenhuisen in the defamation action.
It is likely that the damages sought are many millions of US dollars.
George stood up against wildlife trafficking
The particular source of George’s litigation appears to be an article published by News24 on 17 October carrying a raft of allegations against George, including sexual misconduct, from anonymous sources.
As Daily Maverick has reported, when environmental groups expressed concern about George’s axing due to his apparent success as an environmental steward, a flurry of claims about George began to hit the media.
This is what George now believes was a coordinated “smear campaign” designed as a post-hoc justification for his firing by DA leader John Steenhuisen.
In his Friday statement, George implied that his stand against illicit wildlife trafficking might have contributed to his axing.
“During my tenure as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, I learned firsthand that illicit wildlife trafficking is never just about wildlife. It is one node in a sprawling criminal ecosystem that moves drugs, weapons, people, and illicit finance through the same routes and by the same violent networks,” George wrote.
“To confront these syndicates is to confront the backbone of transnational organised crime.”
George’s statement also listed a number of measures he took during his time in Cabinet to defend SA’s ecosystems.
“We moved to uplist dried abalone to Appendix II of CITES – a critical step to protect a species that has become a currency for drug traffickers. We maintained the zero quota for the commercial farming and slaughter of lions for the export of their bones to China. We held firm against reopening the commercial trade in rhino horn and ivory to China and Vietnam,” George wrote.
“Now, free from the constraints of executive office, I intend to continue this work with renewed clarity.”
Steenhuisen under heat
George’s lawsuit is the latest salvo in an ugly battle between supporters of George and supporters of Steenhuisen, which looks set to seriously destabilise the DA’s leadership.
In addition to the questions being asked about the lack of clear reasons given by Steenhuisen for George’s dismissal, Steenhuisen is also facing internal heat following the publication of a Daily Maverick investigation which revealed that the DA leader had a default judgment issued against him for unpaid credit card debt in May this year and also had his party credit card suspended, allegedly because the account could not be reconciled.
Both these issues can be grounds for dismissal by South African corporates.
A senior member of the DA’s leadership, speaking to Daily Maverick on condition of anonymity this week, said that it was possible Steenhuisen could face a charge of bringing the party into disrepute.
They stated: “This is a clearly serious matter”. DM