Helen Zille announced on Monday that an internal DA investigation had found no evidence that party leader John Steenhuisen ‘misappropriated party funds’, but there are still unanswered questions. A preliminary investigation report into allegations levelled against Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen and party finance chair Dion George was adopted by the party’s highest body on Monday, said the DA’s federal executive chair, Helen Zille, on Monday. The investigation, stemming from an increasingly ugly public spat between Steenhuisen and George, was led by the chairperson of the DA’s federal legal commission (FLC), Glynnis Breytenbach.
“One of the allegations the FLC investigated was that [Steenhuisen] had misappropriated party funds through the use of his party-issued credit card,” said Zille. “The report found that the expenditure on the card had been fully reconciled, that there was noprima facieevidence of misappropriation, and that the limited number of personal expenses had been adequately explained and reimbursed.” She added that Breytenbach’s report recommended that the DA’s policy on the use of party credit cards “be strengthened”. Zille announced that a “disciplinary inquiry” would now investigate the actions of Steenhuisen and George, to determine whether either or both had brought the party into disrepute.
She warned that if anybody involved in the matter publicly discussed it, this could be grounds for expulsion from the DA. In response to questions from Daily Maverick on Tuesday, Helen Zille replied, “The FLC was investigating the complaints received in connection with this matter. The [federal executive] adopted the report and issued a statement.
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That is all we wish to say at this time.” Daily Maverickwas the first outlet to reportthe allegation that Steenhuisen’s party credit card was taken away because the account could not be reconciled. George said that in his capacity as the party’s finance chair he had removed the card from Steenhuisen. George supplied Daily Maverick with text messages from an unnamed staffer asking him to “speak to John” about “his DA card”.
Georgesubsequently elaborated to City Pressthat among the personal expenses Steenhuisen was allegedly charging to his party card were Uber Eats deliveries for Steenhuisen’s family and “household expenses”. Steenhuisen acknowledged that the card was returned to the party, but claimed that it was his decision.
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