Former leader of the Democratic Alliance, Tony Leon.
The public fallout between former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Tony Leon and current leader John Steenhuisen suggests that, when it comes to political influence and lobbying, the DA may not be as different from the ANC as it has long claimed.
For years, the DA has cultivated an image of being uncompromising on corruption, opposed to cadre deployment and committed to clean governance. Yet the controversy surrounding Resolve Communications, the public relations firm where Leon serves as executive chair, has cast a shadow over that narrative.
1008679389__20260630__0 The DA wants John Steenhuisen to be removed as agriculture minster and demoted to the deputy minster of trade and industry. by Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers
Resolve Communications has come under scrutiny for representing Starlink, the satellite internet company owned by Elon Musk, whose recent public statements about South Africa and its transformation policies have drawn widespread criticism. Whether Leon personally shares Musk's views is ultimately beside the point. The concern is that a prominent former political leader is associated with efforts to influence government policy in favour of a private client.
