Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Khusela Diko, has provided an opportunity to Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi to provide a comprehensive written response to reports of his engagements with Resolve Communications and Starlink.
Image: Phando Jikelo / ParliamentRSA
Parliament has given Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi until next Monday to clarify his reported engagements with former DA leader Tony Leon's public relations firm, Resolve Communications, and satellite-based internet network, Starlink.
Khusela Diko, who is the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, made the request to Malatsi, which was followed by reports on allegations contained in recent media reports regarding reported engagements between him, Resolve Communications, and Starlink.
This takes place as ActionSA lodged a complaint with the Office of the Public Protector on Thursday.
This came days after former DA leader and now Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister John Steenhuisen told News24 that Resolve Communications used its proximity to senior DA leaders to facilitate meetings between DA ministers and its private sector clients, including Elon Musk's Starlink.
Steenhuisen mentioned himself, Malatsi, former minister Dion George, and Minister Willie Aucamp as the DA ministers asked by Resolve Communications to meet with their clients, such as Starlink and Redisa.
Leon, who is Resolve Communications' executive chairman, has since dismissed claims that his public affairs firm wielded improper political influence inside the Government of National Unity (GNU), saying the allegations were politically motivated and unsupported by evidence.
He has claimed that Resolve Communications was “a convenient external explanation for difficulties that are, in truth, internal and political” within the DA, following the shifting of Steenhuisen as Agriculture minister to become a deputy minister for Trade, Industry and Competition.
Diko said Steenhuisen’s untested allegations were of a serious nature because they raised questions regarding the propriety of engagements between public office bearers and private interests in matters that may relate to policy development, regulatory processes, and executive decision-making.
“At face value, these allegations invoke concerning historical precedents in our country, where private interests sought to direct government policy and executive decisions during the State Capture era,” she said.
Diko said it was important for the portfolio committee, in the execution of its constitutional oversight mandate, to satisfy itself that all engagements involving Malatsi were conducted in accordance with the constitutional principles of transparency, accountability, and good governance.
Diko has afforded Malatsi an opportunity to provide a comprehensive written response to the matters raised in the media reports.
“The chairperson has requested that the minister submit his detailed written response, together with any supporting documentation, by Monday, 6 July 2026.”
Diko stated that the committee was committed to ensuring transparency, accountability, and ethical governance in the communications and digital technologies sector.
“The committee will consider the minister's response in determining any appropriate next steps,” she added.
The request to Malatsi comes amid ActionSA lodging a complaint with the Office of the Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka.
ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said in a statement on Thursday that his party has requested Gcaleka’s office to conduct an official investigation into Resolve Communications and its dealings with GNU ministers and any corresponding decisions or actions taken by those ministers.
He said there were explosive allegations that Resolve Communications brokered meetings between its clients and several GNU ministers.
“This includes Elon Musk’s Starlink, which is alleged to have met with Communications Minister Solly Malatsi and, later, the former DA leader pressuring about the slow pace of response. Allegations also include that Resolve Communications-linked companies placed pressure on ministers, as has now been publicly confirmed by the former DA minister of Agriculture and former DA minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment.”
Beaumont noted that Leon and DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis have brushed the claims aside, labelling the alleged activities as “lobbying”.
“They sing from the same hymn sheet because it is Tony Leon’s political influence in the DA that is being brought to bear particularly on DA government representatives.
“What they claim to be lobbying appears to be something more sinister and reminds South Africans of a time not that long ago when powerful individuals captured leaders in political parties in a bid to gain access to the state that they would not otherwise enjoy,” he added.
Beaumont further said ActionSA will submit parliamentary questions to all DA ministers and deputy ministers on their engagements with Resolve Communications.
“We will ask for the Minister of Communications as well as Resolve Communications to appear before the appropriate parliamentary committee to answer questions on their actions.”