Then Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Tony Leon (left), observed by Helen Zille who succeeded him as party leader, casts his vote during the Local Government Elections on March 01, 2006 in Cape Town. The DA cannot have it both ways. It cannot condemn the capture of the state by one party while tolerating the capture of policy by its own elite networks, says the writer.
Dr. Reneva Fourie
For years, the Democratic Alliance has presented itself as South Africa’s foremost champion of clean governance. Throughout the years of state capture under Jacob Zuma, the party positioned itself as the uncompromising defender of accountability, transparency and ethical governance.
Recent revelations by former DA leader John Steenhuisen about the conduct of another former leader, Tony Leon, and his public affairs firm, Resolve Communications, have exposed a staggering contradiction.
Resolve Communications is accused of arranging meetings between Elon Musk’s Starlink and DA ministers, including Communications Minister Solly Malatsi, to push for faster regulatory action on Starlink's operating licence.
