The article details allegations that former DA leader Tony Leon, through his PR firm Resolve Communications, sought to secure tender contracts from the Tshwane and Johannesburg metropolitan municipalities.

A former senior manager in the City of Tshwane submitted an affidavit to the public protector, accusing Leon of approaching then-mayors Solly Msimanga and Herman Mashaba to facilitate business relationships between the metros and his PR firm.The claims are part of a broader investigation into whether Resolve Communications exerted pressure on DA cabinet ministers to meet client demands.

Mmusi Maimane, Steenhuisen’s predecessor, confirmed Leon’s efforts to connect his firm with the metros, though Mashaba reportedly rejected the overture.The affidavit accompanies a complaint by ActionSA, which alleges that the PR firm’s activities may have influenced political decisions.

The case highlights tensions within the DA and raises questions about the intersection of private interests and public governance in South Africa’s municipalities.