Former DA leader and founder of Resolve Communications Tony Leon.
Image: Sibusiso Ndlovu/African news agency (ANA) Archives
ActionSA has lodged a formal complaint with the Public Protector, calling for an investigation into Resolve Communications, the public relations firm founded by former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Tony Leon, over its alleged dealings with ministers in the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The complaint, announced on Thursday by ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont, asks the Public Protector to investigate Resolve Communications' interactions with GNU ministers, as well as "any corresponding decisions or actions taken by those ministers".
The move follows allegations that Resolve Communications facilitated meetings between its clients and several GNU ministers, including a meeting between Elon Musk's Starlink and Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi. ActionSA alleges that Leon later pressured Malatsi over what was described as the slow pace of government's regulatory response affecting Starlink's interests.
According to Beaumont, the concerns extend beyond the Starlink matter.
"Allegations also include that companies linked to Resolve Communications placed pressure on ministers, as has now been publicly confirmed by the former DA Minister of Agriculture and the former DA Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment," he said.
Leon has dismissed suggestions of wrongdoing, characterising Resolve Communications' activities as routine lobbying. Beaumont, however, rejected that explanation, arguing that Leon's political influence within the DA raises more serious concerns.
"They sing from the same hymn sheet because it is Tony Leon's political influence in the DA that is allegedly being brought to bear, particularly on DA representatives in government," Beaumont said.
He argued that the allegations evoke memories of the state capture era, during which politically connected individuals were accused of using their influence to shape government decisions for private gain.
"What they claim to be lobbying appears to be something far more sinister and reminds South Africans of a time not that long ago when powerful individuals captured leaders of political parties in a bid to gain access to the state that they would not otherwise have enjoyed," Beaumont said.
Resolve Communications has meanwhile responded, saying the move by ActionSA "amounts to a political stunt".
"We are a private company, and the Public Protector’s constitutional mandate, under section 182, is confined to conduct in state affairs and public administration. Section 6(4) of the Public Protector Act limits that jurisdiction to organs of state, institutions controlled by the state, public entities, and persons performing a public function. A private firm conducting lawful commercial work is self-evidently none of these," the company said in a statement.
"To the extent that any party seeks to have the Public Protector investigate Resolve itself, as though it were an arm of the state, that would fall outside her jurisdiction entirely. A call of that kind is not a genuine accountability measure; it is a political manoeuvre and theatre dressed in constitutional language. Pursuing it would be an abuse of process and of state resources," the statement continued.
Resolve further said it would offer whatever cooperation was required of it by the Public Protector's office.
ActionSA also pointed to an earlier incident involving Resolve Communications, citing Herman Mashaba's account of his time as Johannesburg mayor.
According to the party, Leon attempted to facilitate a R300 million contract for one of Resolve Communications' clients during a meeting with Mashaba. Mashaba allegedly rejected the proposal and lodged a complaint with the DA. ActionSA claims Leon later chaired the internal review panel that investigated Mashaba's administration, a process the party says ultimately contributed to Mashaba's departure from the DA.
Beaumont said the episode suggests the firm's alleged conduct is not an isolated incident.
"This would not have marked Resolve Communications' first foray into backroom dealings," the statement said.
ActionSA said its efforts will not end with the Public Protector complaint.
The party plans to submit parliamentary questions to all DA ministers and deputy ministers regarding any engagements they may have had with Resolve Communications. It will also seek the appearance of Minister Malatsi and representatives of Resolve Communications before the relevant parliamentary committee to answer questions about the allegations.
Beaumont stressed that the issue is not about targeting a single political party, but about ensuring accountability across government.
"Acts of impropriety are not the speciality of one party, even if one party has had the lion's share of access to government throughout our 32-year-old democracy," he said.
He argued that the expanded composition of the GNU, which includes more political parties in national government than at any point since 1994, makes robust oversight even more important.
"The GNU has seen more political parties gain access to national government, and it appears that the opposition will need to play an effective role in monitoring potential abuses of power by those invisible forces that ride on the coattails of others to gain access to the levers of power in our country," Beaumont said.
He concluded by saying ActionSA would continue pursuing the matter.
"ActionSA will continue to apply pressure in pursuit of the truth. Where wrongdoing is found, consequences must follow."
The Government of National Unity was formed after the 2024 general election, which left the African National Congress (ANC) without an outright parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994. The coalition brought together the ANC, the DA and several smaller parties.
Leon led the DA from 1994 to 2007 before founding Resolve Communications, a public affairs and reputation management firm. He has remained an influential figure within the party and has previously chaired internal review processes, including the panel that examined Herman Mashaba's tenure as Johannesburg mayor following Mashaba's exit from the DA in 2019.
Malatsi has faced scrutiny in recent months over the government's approach to regulating satellite internet providers, including Starlink, which is seeking to enter the South African market.
The DA has been approached for comment. This story will be updated as soon as their comments are received.