The DA’s Gordian knot: How the party’s internal feud could affect the elections

For many years, one of the major selling points the DA has used when speaking to voters has been the claim that it is not corrupt, that it will make decisions based on good governance.

It has also campaigned against cadre deployment, claiming that it would not appoint people to positions in a bid to control government policy.

Suddenly, all of this may now be at risk – and the party leader, John Steenhuisen, is at the centre of it.

Either he used a DA credit card for himself and his family, or he did not. As Dion George (financial chair of the DA) was able to take the action of removing Steenhuisen’s DA credit card, it seems obviously true (unless there are still important facts that are yet to come to light).

While it could be a simple mistake (it is easy to insert credit card details into the Uber app – and then to use that account to order food), the real issue would be the pattern, and from George’s actions in removing the card, this was a pattern of behaviour.

The fact, as Daily Maverick’s Rebecca Davis has revealed, that Steenhuisen has had a judgment against him for defaulting by R150,000 on his personal credit card, will also add to the suspicion that this was not an accident.

Read more: Big-spending Steenhuisen faces scrutiny as DA fallout over axed Dion George continues

This would mean the leader of the party had abused the party’s money.

It would seem unlikely that the leader of the DA would survive such a finding.

Then, there is the timing of his decision to remove George.

As DA spokesperson Karabo Khakhau explained on Newzroom Afrika this week, Steenhuisen was the primary actor in this decision.

She says that within the party, the leader of a caucus decides on positions. Thus, as leader of the DA caucus in Cabinet, Steenhuisen recommended to the Federal Executive (FedEx) that George be removed and replaced by Willie Aucamp.

The FedEx did not meaningfully engage with this, but assented to the move.

While there has been no public claim yet that Steenhuisen was moving against George in Cabinet in retaliation for the removal of his DA credit card, the timing is likely to lead to such questions.

Now, the DA has asked its Federal Legal Commission to investigate.

Khakhau has promised that Steenhuisen will be treated like any other DA member who is facing claims against them.

This means the Federal Legal Commission will have to make findings of fact. And if it does find against Steenhuisen, it seems it would be difficult for him to survive.

DA election?

Should all of this happen, the DA would be faced with another difficult situation.

It would, presumably, have to hold a leadership election to replace him.

While it could try to spin this as more proof that it always acts against corruption, that election could also be damaging.

In the past, DA leadership elections have seen the national narrative asking questions about whether the DA will really elect a black leader. Considering the importance of race in our politics, this is not surprising.

Even though the most delegates at the DA’s last conference were clearly black, coloured or Indian, they still elected a majority white leadership (including Steenhuisen).

While it would be premature to make predictions at this point, it is entirely possible that this would happen again.

This would be a gift to parties such as the ANC, the EFF and MK, who would try to make this about race.

There is another danger.

Any leadership contest in the DA could, perhaps, become a debate about whether to remain in the national coalition. And while it is probably unlikely that delegates would elect a leader opposed to the national coalition, it is likely that this issue would have to be discussed.

Just that alone could be difficult for the party.

Defamation case pending

Meanwhile, another process is beginning, over which the DA’s structures will have no power.

George has said that he is suing some of the news outlets that published anonymous claims against him.

Considering one of the claims, reported by News24, is that he was accused of “sexual misconduct”, his entire reputation is on the line.

Read more: Axed Environment Minister Dion George suing for millions for defamation

This means that unless News 24 apologises, settles or provides proof of the claim, he will pursue the case vigorously.

If it turns out the source of the story was inside the DA, that will further damage the party, and possibly Steenhuisen.

Unfortunately for the DA, the damage may not end there.

As Daily Maverick’s Don Pinnock has explained, Dion’s replacement at the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs, Aucamp, is close to the hunting lobby.

Read more: Pressure mounts for DA leader to justify firing of Environment Minister Dion George

It is still not clear why Steenhuisen wanted Aucamp to be in this post.

But it will lead to the claim that the lobby has “captured” this ministry.

This, in turn, might well weaken the DA’s claim to be governing for the good of the country.

To put it another way, if someone who was intimately involved in the oil industry was appointed by the ANC as energy minister, it is likely that the DA would complain.

All of this will provide some stiff tests for the DA.

It is now up to their Federal Legal Council to investigate. Their findings might well change the course of the party, and perhaps even the national coalition. DM