JOHANNESBURG - Political analyst Sethulego Matebesi says Dion George’s resignation from the Democratic Alliance will have reputational damage.
George quit the party on Thursday, accusing its leader John Steenhuisen of orchestrating a smear campaign to remove him from Cabinet.
In a detailed statement, the former Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment also claimed the party had been captured by the ANC.
Speaking to eNCA on Friday, Matebesi said George’s public resignation was a calculated move.
FULL STATEMENT | Dion George quits the DA
“The move by George was to try and gain maximum benefits out of having that announcement instead of taking confidence privately into the DA leadership. That tells you the man is angry; he just wanted to isolate and distance himself from the party.”
With the party preparing to go to its Federal Congress in April, Matebesi said the departure of George, who has been the engine of the DA’s financial management will have huge reputational damage.
“Going forward, I will not be surprised if even oppositions parties use that as some form of leverage going into the local government elections,” Matebesi said.