Dion George
Dion George is the current South African Minister of Environment, who recently defended the fishing closure policies implemented by his predecessor, Barbara Creecy, arguing that the decisions made were legally sound and based on extensive consultation, despite ongoing litigation from conservation groups seeking more effective measures to protect the African penguin population.
Not in the pool (under ¢1).
Recent news mentions
Dion George was fired during the COP30 conference, leading to South Africa attending without ministerial representation.
Komati illustrates the human cost of South Africa’s energy transition – The Mail & Guardian
South Africa· 2026-02-05
Steenhuisen was recently investigated by the party’s federal legal commission (FLC) over claims that he abused the organisation’s funds for personal use via a party credit card, which involved former treasurer Dion George.
“I don’t get forced to do anything,” says Steenhuisen – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2026-02-04
Dion George is a senior DA member and ex-Environment Affairs Minister involved in a fallout with John Steenhuisen.
DA leader John Steenhuisen to step down as leader of South Africa's second largest party
United Kingdom· 2026-02-04
Dion George was fired from cabinet last year at the DA leader’s instigation.
John Steenhuisen to withdraw from Democratic Alliance leadership race – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2026-02-03
Dion George was fired by President Cyril Ramaphosa as environment minister at Steenhuisen’s request.
Inquiry delay could suggest DA plot – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2026-01-16
Dion George has resigned from the Democratic Alliance and from parliament following a public fallout with party leader John Steenhuisen.
Dion George quits DA ahead of disciplinary hearing outcome – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2026-01-15Dion George opened a 30-day window for public comment on draft regulations for exploring and producing onshore petroleum resources requiring hydraulic fracturing.
New draft fracking rules spark fresh debate – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-12-12
Dion George, the former minister, revised fishing closures to better align with the penguins’ foraging ranges.
African penguins starving – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-12-05
Dion George was the former environment minister whose dismissal risks undermining South Africa’s climate leadership at COP30.
Axing of former minister Dion George risks undermining SA’s climate leadership at COP30 – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-11-18
Dion George was removed from the portfolio of forestry, fisheries and the environment.
Ramaphosa appoints Willie Aucamp as environment minister – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-11-13
Dion George is the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in South Africa.
Civil society groups urge Ramaphosa to block DA plan to replace environment minister – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-11-12
Dion George is the South African Minister of the Environment participating in the COP-30 negotiations.
COP-30: negociação de adaptação climática avança sob pressão de desastres, como o tornado no Paraná
Liechtenstein· 2025-11-11
Dion George is South Africa’s Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, co-chairing adaptation negotiations at COP30.
Finance, adaptation, technology and fair trade – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-11-10
Dr Dion George is the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment of South Africa.
Killing of captive-bred lions is not hunting – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-10-27Environment minister Dion George says oceans could provide a R166 billion boost and 600 000 jobs.
“Blue gold” for jobs and growth by 2035 – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-10-10Dion George is the minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment in South Africa.
Sub-Saharan Africa left with less than 1% of global funding – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-10-08
Dion George has sharply criticised the process behind the latest round of talks to develop a global plastics treaty in Geneva.
Plastic pollution is a public health emergency, says Dion George – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-10-01Dion George is the Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister of South Africa who spoke at the Africa climate summit in Ethiopia.
SA aims ‘to sharpen’ Africa’s message on climate change in Addis Ababa Declaration – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-09-23
Dion George, the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, emphasized the importance of ozone protection in a statement.
L'Afrique du Sud demande qu'on en fasse plus pour protéger la couche d'ozone
Cameroon· 2025-09-16Minister Dion George has been accused of failing to set and allocate annual trophy hunting quotas for African elephants, black rhinos, and leopards.
Wildlife ranchers slam Dion George over hunting quota standoff – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-09-15
Dr Dion George is the minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment.
Saving the African penguin is a noisy affair – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-09-15Dion George is the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
A bold plan to link conservation and communities – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-09-05
Dion George is the forestry, fisheries and the environment minister who signed into law the regulations for the environmental management of offshore ship-to-ship transfer.
African penguin survival at risk despite ship-to-ship transfer laws – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-08-26
Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Dion George said the arrests were a turning point in the fight against international wildlife crime.
Controversial rhino breeder John Hume in dock on charges of rhino horn trafficking – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-08-20
Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Dion George hailed the arrests as a turning point in the fight against international wildlife crime.
Hawks bust rhino trafficking syndicate linked to 964 horns – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-08-19
Dion George is the Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister of South Africa who expressed disappointment over the outcome of the talks.
UN plastics treaty talks collapse – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-08-17
Dion George has upheld the 2017 decision granting Eskom environmental authorisation to construct and operate a proposed new nuclear plant in the Western Cape.
Dion George gives go ahead for new 4 000MW nuclear plant – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-08-11
Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dion George on Thursday released draft regulations to prohibit the manufacture, import, export, distribution and sale of microbeads and products containing them.
South Africa proposes ban on polluting plastic microbeads – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-08-08
Dion George is the Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister who published the draft second nationally determined contribution (NDC) for South Africa.
SA’s draft second climate plan calls for urgent action, global support – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-08-01
Dion George, the Environment Minister, stated that the conviction sends a clear message against environmental crime.
Plant poachers get slapped with jail sentences of 15 years each – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-07-28
