Indigenous Council Demands Answers on DA Minister’s Dual Citizenship

The Aikonese Cochoqua Tribal Council, registered with Heritage Western Cape and entrusted with ancestral stewardship and community advocacy, issues this statement in response to the confirmed dual citizenship of Minister Dion George, currently serving as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment.

We acknowledge that South African law permits dual citizenship. However, when a minister is entrusted with custodianship over our nation’s environmental heritage, marine resources, and ancestral lands, the question of undivided allegiance becomes more than legal—it becomes spiritual, ethical, and symbolic.

The Democratic Alliance has long claimed to uphold rigorous vetting standards for its candidates. Yet the appointment of a dual citizen to a portfolio so intimately tied to sovereignty and indigenous stewardship raises serious concerns:

- Was the DA’s vetting process transparent and inclusive of indigenous perspectives?

- Did it consider the symbolic and strategic implications of foreign allegiance in environmental governance?

- Has the party consulted with heritage custodians and traditional councils before endorsing such appointments?

We remind all political parties: vetting is not merely a checklist—it is a covenant with the people, the land, and the ancestors.

The Khoi and San people have defended the sacred balance between land and spirit for generations. We call upon the Government of National Unity to ensure that all ministers—especially those overseeing environmental and heritage portfolios—demonstrate full transparency, rootedness, and accountability to South Africa’s indigenous communities.

We further challenge the Democratic Alliance to engage in open dialogue with traditional councils and heritage custodians if they want to earn trust and demonstrate its commitment to inclusive governance.

Let it be known—citizenship is not only a legal status; it is a covenant with the soil, the people, and the spirit of the land.