Key Takeaways
- The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies has given Minister Solly Malatsi until 6 July 2026 to provide a detailed written response regarding his alleged contacts with Resolve Communications and Starlink.
- Former DA leader Tony Leon’s public‑relations firm, Resolve Communications, is accused of using its proximity to senior DA officials to arrange meetings between DA ministers and private‑sector clients, notably Elon Musk’s Starlink.
- ex‑DA leader and now Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition John Steenhuisen told News24 that Resolve facilitated meetings for himself, Malatsi, former minister Dion George and former minister Willie Aucamp with Starlink and other clients.
- Tony Leon, executive chairman of Resolve Communications, rejects the claims as politically motivated smears, arguing the allegations are an external excuse for internal DA tensions.
- Committee chairperson Khusela Diko stresses that the allegations raise serious governance concerns reminiscent of the State Capture era and must be examined for transparency, accountability and good governance.
- ActionSA has lodged a complaint with the Office of the Public Protector, calling for an investigation into Resolve Communications’ dealings with GNU ministers and any resulting decisions.
- ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont says the party will submit parliamentary questions to all DA ministers and deputy ministers about their engagements with Resolve and will seek appearances before the appropriate parliamentary committee.
Background and Parliamentary Request
The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, chaired by Khusela Diko, has formally instructed Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi to clarify his reported engagements with Resolve Communications—a public‑relations firm linked to former DA leader Tony Leon—and with satellite‑internet provider Starlink. Diko’s directive followed media reports suggesting that Malatsi, among other DA officials, had been introduced to Starlink executives through Resolve. The committee’s request is rooted in its constitutional oversight mandate, which requires it to verify that all interactions between public office‑bearers and private interests adhere to principles of transparency, accountability and good governance. Malatsi has been given until Monday, 6 July 2026 to submit a comprehensive written response, together with any supporting documentation, to the committee.
Allegations from Steenhuisen and Media Reports
Former DA leader and current Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition John Steenhuisen told News24 that Resolve Communications leveraged its close ties to senior DA figures to facilitate meetings between DA ministers and its private‑sector clients. Steenhuisen specifically named himself, Minister Solly Malatsi, former minister Dion George, and former minister Willie Aucamp as the DA officials allegedly approached by Resolve to arrange encounters with clients such as Elon Musk’s Starlink and the waste‑management company Redisa. According to Steenhuisen, these introductions were not merely informal networking but part of a coordinated effort to influence policy discussions and regulatory outcomes in favour of Resolve’s clients. The allegations have triggered concern that private interests may be attempting to steer government decisions through back‑channel lobbying.
Leon’s Defence and Dismissal of Claims
Tony Leon, who serves as the executive chairman of Resolve Communications, has strongly rejected the accusations, describing them as politically motivated and unsupported by any concrete evidence. Leon characterised the allegations as a “convenient external explanation” for internal difficulties within the DA, particularly referencing the reshuffling that moved Steenhuisen from the Agriculture portfolio to a deputy‑ministerial role in Trade, Industry and Competition. He argued that the firm’s interactions with government officials constitute legitimate lobbying activities and that the claims are being used to undermine Resolve’s reputation and to score political points against the DA. Leon insisted that no improper influence was exerted and that all meetings were conducted in accordance with standard professional practices.
Committee Chairperson’s Concerns and Reference to State Capture
Khusela Diko emphasised that the allegations, even if unproven, raise serious questions about the propriety of engagements between public officials and private interests, especially when they intersect with policy formulation, regulatory processes and executive decision‑making. She warned that, at face value, the claims echo troubling precedents from South Africa’s State Capture era, wherein powerful private actors sought to dictate government policy and steer executive actions for personal gain. Diko stressed that the portfolio committee must satisfy itself that all of Minister Malatsi’s interactions with Resolve Communications and any related entities were conducted transparently and accountably, upholding the principles of good governance that are essential to maintaining public trust in state institutions.
Committee’s Demand for a Written Response
In line with its oversight responsibilities, the committee has afforded Minister Malatsi an explicit opportunity to address the allegations through a detailed written submission. Diko stated that the chairperson has requested the minister to provide his comprehensive response, together with any supporting documentation, by Monday, 6 July 2026. The committee intends to scrutinise the minister’s explanation and any evidence he supplies before determining what, if any, further steps are warranted. This could include summoning witnesses, requesting additional documents, or recommending that the matter be referred to other accountability bodies such as the Public Protector or an anti‑corruption agency.
ActionSA’s Complaint to the Public Protector
Parallel to the parliamentary inquiry, ActionSA has lodged a formal complaint with the Office of the Public Protector, headed by Kholeka Gcaleka. ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont asserted in a statement that his party is seeking an official investigation into Resolve Communications and its interactions with GNU ministers, as well as any consequent decisions or actions taken by those officials. Beaumont highlighted allegations that Resolve brokered meetings between its clients—including Elon Musk’s Starlink—and several GNU ministers, and that Resolve‑linked companies exerted pressure on ministers to advance their interests. He characterised the situation as potentially more sinister than ordinary lobbying, likening it to attempts to capture state power reminiscent of previous scandals.
Further Parliamentary Actions and Call for Appearances
Beaumont added that ActionSA plans to submit a series of parliamentary questions to all DA ministers and deputy ministers concerning their engagements with Resolve Communications. The party aims to elicit a clear record of which officials met with Resolve representatives, the nature of those meetings, and any outcomes that may have flowed from them. Furthermore, ActionSA intends to request that both the Minister of Communications (Solly Malatsi) and Resolve Communications appear before the appropriate parliamentary committee to answer questions about their actions and to provide transparency regarding any influence‑seeking activities. Beaumont concluded by warning that what some label as “lobbying” could, in reality, constitute a troubling effort to gain undue access to state resources, and that robust oversight is essential to safeguard democratic integrity.