Steenhuisen off the hook for now over claims he abused the DA's credit card for personal use

Democratic Alliance (DA) Leader John Steenhuisen is off the hook for now on claims that he abused a party credit card for personal use.

However, he and former minister Dion George will have to face a disciplinary process to determine whether their public spat brought the party into disrepute.

This comes after Steenhuisen axed George last year, prompting him to hit back with claims of impropriety against the DA Leader.

On Monday the party’s Federal Executive Committee upheld recommendations from its disciplinary body, the Federal Legal Commission (FLC) that the pair faces disciplinary charges.

The commission said that a preliminary investigation found that all expenditure on the credit card used by Steenhuisen has been fully reconciled and that there’s no prima facie evidence of misappropriation.

The FLC said that personal expenses which were limited have also been adequately explained and reimbursed.

The investigation is in response to claims by George that Steenhuisen had been reckless with the credit facility.

On Monday Federal ExecutiveChairperson Helen Zille said that the party’s executive has resolved to order both members to stop publicly airing their disagreements until the investigation is finalised.

On Sunday it emerged that George also laid a complaint against Steenhuisen with the Public Protector on matters related to removing him as minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment.

Zille said that the DA's executive requested the FLC to also determine whether state resources were abused by George as alleged in a complaint to the Public Protector by his successor Minister Willie Aucamp.

The FLC has been ordered to give priority to this matter and to determine how internal financial information from the party had been leaked.