SA Politics Thread Part 12

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Seems like he was a piece of work. Why wasn't he vetted with background checks and characters references, like they expect of everyone else...

Amid claims that axed environment minister Dion George verbally abused his employees during his 14 months in office, staff have also accused him of sexual misconduct – including bragging about being well-endowed and explicitly recounting his past sexual encounters, highly placed insiders told News24.

The sources also confirmed several claims, reported by weekend publications, that George was fond of expensive flights and luxury hotel stays, while he apparently joked with stakeholders that he was not suitably qualified for the job.

George had apparently taken 12 international trips since his appointment in June 2024.

It was also alleged that George had refused to stay in his official home in Pretoria because it did not meet his standards, and that his deputies, Bernice Swarts and Narend Singh, often spoke over him in meetings.

Two highly placed sources in the department detailed the allegations. They spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation.

One alleged:
He’s useless. He’s done nothing for the department. Our department is falling apart.
“He’s been on so many international flights. He’s never in the office. He’s not approachable. The deputy minister speaks over him.”

Another source in the department said George made several highly inappropriate jokes in the company of stakeholders.

“Inappropriate sexual misconduct [allegedly getting changed while alone in a room with a staff member without warning], graphic recounting [of] sexual encounters from the past, bragging about his endowment – even in front of female staff,” the source said.

DA leader John Steenhuisen, through spokesperson Charity McCord, said a former employee of George “did approach me with a list of allegations against the minister”.

“Upon receipt of the allegations and complaints, I called a meeting with Dr George and provided him with these complaints and allegations. He indicated that he would deal with them and provide a response,” Steenhuisen said.

“His response to me was that the former employee was jealous of others in the office and that this had led him to resign.”


DA leader John Steenhuisen confirmed that a former employee of former minister Dion George approached him with a list of allegations against George.

News24 has seen a list of complaints against George that were submitted to Steenhuisen. The sexual misconduct allegations were also on that list.

On Friday, News24 reported that George had angered President Cyril Ramaphosa by pushing his own views on the wildlife trade on an international platform.

George’s statements, made at the Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife Global Summit – a wildlife conservation foundation founded by Prince William – on 4 November in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, contradicted the agreed Cabinet policy on the commercial trade in elephant tusks and rhino horn, which SA will allow “when conditions are favourable”.

Sources have also claimed that George refused to take any guidance from anyone.

“He disregards all advice from technical experts [as well as party] department affiliates. This while taking pride in his refusal to accept any guidance,” the source charged.

“He goes on international trips that were not advisable, booking unnecessarily expensive cars, hotels, refusing to use his ministerial house in Pretoria as it was ‘not up to his standards’ and spent huge amounts of DPWI (Department of Public Works and Infrastructure) funds on constant, unnecessary renovations.”

George also spoke ill of his fellow Cabinet colleagues, the source alleged.

“He speaks about his colleagues, be that his DA colleagues in Cabinet, in the lowest of terms in the company of many external stakeholders. He refers to them all as stupid and useless, and stating that they are unqualified and that they could not further their education due to their stupidity,” the source claimed.

Another source claimed that George had gone on a trip to Antarctica that he did not disclose.

“[He] didn’t even visit our own science-based camp. He just went on a cruise, flying in and out on a private plane, and he never even disclosed that,” the source said.

George has also allegedly boasted to foreign diplomats that he “cannot be controlled by the ANC or DA”.

The sources alleged:

He claims that no one can influence his decisions. It was made abundantly clear that George exhibited an inability or incompetency to remain uncorrupted by power. This was extremely disappointing to bear witness to.

A third source said George’s office had micromanaged the department and undermined the work of its branches and the director-general.

“He took over the whole department’s budget and DPSA (Department of Public Service and Administration) appointments, and only he will approve candidates. He overrules the HR systems on appointments and believes he is untouchable in this regard,” the source said.

News24 repeatedly reached out to George for comment since Friday through phone calls and text messages, but received no response.

On Sunday, George told City Press’ sister publication, Rapport, that allegations against him were “utter bullshit”.

He said that no formal charges had ever been made against him, and that the claims were an attempt to damage his reputation. George said he did not know if the allegations could have played a role in his removal.

Deputy ministers Swarts and Singh were also contacted for comment, but only Singh responded, denying that he ever spoke over George in meetings.

DA national spokesperson Karabo Khakhau also did not respond to calls or texts, while the party’s federal chairperson, Helen Zille, told told News24:

No complaints ever reached me.

George’s former chief of staff, Shelton Mollentze, told News24 he could not comment as he was no longer with the department or George’s office.
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Mike Hoxbig said:
Seems like he was a piece of work. Why wasn't he vetted with background checks and characters references, like they expect of everyone else...


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That's a lot, and the timing will always be suspicious, but if true, it also says a lot about the DA deployment processes, because I doubt he developed all those tendencies when he was appointed a Minister.
 
TheChamp said:
That's a lot, and the timing will always be suspicious, but if true, it also says a lot about the DA deployment processes, because I doubt he developed all those tendencies when he was appointed a Minister.
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I'm always suspicious of people who insist on using their "doctor" title. It's almost always coupled to an inflated ego...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Seems like he was a piece of work. Why wasn't he vetted with background checks and characters references, like they expect of everyone else...


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There is a chunk of contradictory stuff there, as well as the timing is very convenient in its own way.

BUT I don't necessarily think he was a fabulous Minister either... just that I'd take some of those claims with a pinch of salt.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
I'm always suspicious of people who insist on using their "doctor" title. It's almost always coupled to an inflated ego...
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Yeah, but to be honest, he sounds like a lot of DA supporters here, maybe the DA could not stand the taste of their own medicine, and John would also take that very personal.

“He speaks about his colleagues, be that his DA colleagues in Cabinet, in the lowest of terms in the company of many external stakeholders. He refers to them all as stupid and useless, and stating that they are unqualified and that they could not further their education due to their stupidity,” the source claimed.
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