FIGHTBACKDA infighting escalates as Aucamp reports George to Public Protector for ‘possible abuse of state resources’ByVictoria O’Regan

Environment Minister Willie Aucamp’s complaint is the latest incident in a battle between camps within the DA, which looks set to destabilise the party’s leadership ahead of its elective congress in 2026. Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Willie Aucamp has confirmed that he filed a complaint with the Public Protector against his predecessor Dion George, for his “possible abuse of state resources” while in office. This is after aCity Pressreport on Sunday, 28 December first revealed that Aucamp had asked the Public Protector to investigate George over accusations of the abuse of state resources and a fabricated whistleblower report in the periodbefore his removal from office.

Aucamp’s complaint, filed on Friday, 26 December, also asked that the Public Protector investigate George’s then adviser and acting chief of staff, Shelton Mollentze, and his then personal assistant, Traverse le Goff, reported the publication. Aucamp’s complaint is the latest incident in a battle between camps within the DA, which looks set to destabilise the DA’s leadership ahead of its elective congress in 2026. In a statement published on Sunday, 28 December, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) said Aucamp’s complaint to the Public Protector followed his appointment to office in November, after which he was made aware of a “baseless” investigation into his private business affairs.

The department said the investigation appeared to have been “potentially politically motivated and aimed at falsely linking” Aucamp to the lion breeding industry – an industry with which he has denied association. “I will not shy away from my duty as Minister and will act against anyone in my department who has been alleged, on a prima facie basis, to have misused state resources, irrespective of what position such individuals hold or have held in the past. I have therefore, in my capacity as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, fulfilled my duty and submitted a comprehensive report to the Public Protector detailing all the information and evidence available to me,” said Aucamp in the statement. “The use of state resources for personal or political purposes is unlawful, and an investigation by the Public Protector will determine whether any such abuse occurred.”