CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — ActionSA has formally called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to launch an urgent investigation into explosive lobbying allegations made by former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen against Tony Leon’s PR firm, Resolve Communications. The political party is demanding strict accountability over claims that the firm facilitated controversial meetings between DA government ministers and private clients in an effort to influence public policy.
The controversy centers on recent revelations by Steenhuisen, who alleged that Resolve Communications arranged repeated, facilitated meetings between DA ministers and the firm’s private clients. According to the claims, the DA minister of communications was pressured to meet with Starlink, a prominent client of Leon’s firm. Furthermore, Steenhuisen revealed that he was personally called to a meeting with Starlink officials to complain about the slow pace of policy reform within the communications ministry.
ActionSA Chairperson Michael Beaumont argues that these actions represent a massive conflict of interest and a potential pattern of state capture. Beaumont pointed out that Tony Leon, who leads Resolve Communications, was instrumental in negotiating the Government of National Unity (GNU), secured the communications ministry portfolio for the DA, and currently sits on the party’s top committees. Beaumont asserts that Leon is now leveraging these deep political connections to knock on cabinet doors on behalf of his paying clients.
Highlighting a historical pattern, Beaumont recounted an incident dating back to 2019 involving then-Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba. Beaumont alleged that Leon attempted to discuss party matters with Mashaba, but the conversation was entirely focused on a Resolve Communications client seeking municipal tenders. Beaumont noted that no legal action was ever taken when these claims were first published in his book years ago, suggesting that the current threats of defamation from Resolve Communications are a sudden and strategic new development.
A major point of contention for ActionSA is Resolve Communications’ continued representation of Starlink and its owner, Elon Musk. While Resolve Communications defended the relationship during a recent radio broadcast—stating they do not cut ties over disagreements with a client’s public statements—Beaumont warned of severe national security risks. He argued that granting low-orbit satellite access to South African communication and security networks to a figure publicly spreading damaging misinformation about the country is highly dangerous, and he questioned how this balances against the benefits of affordable connectivity.
Despite bringing the allegations to light, ActionSA maintains that Steenhuisen is not a whistleblower and faces uncomfortable questions of his own. Beaumont questioned Steenhuisen’s sudden moral indignation, suggesting the claims only surfaced because the former leader was slighted by the new DA leadership and subsequently lost his ministerial position. Beaumont also asked why Steenhuisen participated in these lobbying meetings and agreed to pressure the communications minister in the first place.
Addressing Resolve Communications’ defense that their activities constitute standard, transparent global lobbying, Beaumont dismissed this characterization. He argued that the practice is currently unregulated and operates in the dark within the multi-party GNU. He emphasized the lack of guardrails to protect South African interests over the financial interests of politically connected firms, noting that the truth was only dragged into the public spotlight against the firm’s will.
ActionSA is not waiting for the President’s office to act on its request for a probe. Beaumont announced that the party is filing a formal complaint with the Public Protector to take the next logical step. Additionally, they have submitted written questions to the involved ministers to uncover the exact details of these engagements and are working with the communications portfolio committee to summon the minister for questioning.
Meanwhile, Resolve Communications has declined requests for an interview. However, Beaumont stated that his party would welcome a legal defamation battle, as it would provide a legal platform to subpoena ministers and clients under oath to uncover the exact nature of these discussions.
