New DA federal leader Geordin Hill-Lewis says he sees no problem with the party paying salary “top-ups” to some senior members.
Hill-Lewis was responding after a leaked report showed that several DA office bearers received extra payments from party funds.
He said the money came from DA fundraising and not from the state.
“It’s not taxpayer money,” the party has argued, saying the payments were linked to extra responsibilities.
What the Leaked Report Says
The report was reportedly prepared by former DA federal finance chairperson Dr Dion George before he resigned in January.
It said the DA’s Federal Executive asked in December 2025 for details of payments made to public representatives.
The report listed top-ups to former DA leader John Steenhuisen, Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen, former Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink and others.
Brink was reportedly paid R62,386 a month from 1 October 2024. The amount was described as the difference between his salary as a part-time Tshwane councillor and that of Tshwane executive mayor.
Steenhuisen reportedly received R39,560 a month and had limited access to a party credit card.
Sarupen and DA National Assembly House chairperson Werner Horn reportedly received R50,000 a month for election campaign duties.
DA Says Policy may be Reviewed
DA national spokesperson Jan de Villiers backed Hill-Lewis’s position.
He said the payments were not corruption and did not involve public funds. He described them as party money used to pay people for additional work.
But De Villiers also said the issue may point to a need for clearer rules.
He said the DA’s Federal Executive would consider whether the party needed to review or strengthen its policy on top-ups.
Transparency Questions Remain
The matter has placed the DA under renewed pressure over internal transparency.
Hill-Lewis insists the payments are an internal party issue. But the leaked report has pushed the debate into the public eye.
For now, the DA’s next step is expected to come through its Federal Executive, where the party will discuss the report and possible policy changes.
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