Steenhuisen’s exit from DA leadership opens the door for new leadership

John Steenhuisen announces he will not seek re-election as DA leader, opening the race to succeed him as the party prepares for its federal congress. John Steenhuisen on Wednesday announced that he will not seek re-election for a third term as leader of the Democratic Alliance, with political analysts confident the party could survive disruptive leadership losses as mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, is widely regarded as a potential successor. Political analyst Sipho Seepe argued that Steenhuisen’s departure would not fundamentally weaken the DA, noting that the party had previously survived leadership losses.

“The DA has weathered the exits of figures such as Lindiwe Mazibuko, Patricia de Lille and Mmusi Maimane,” Seepe said. “It is not a party whose strategic direction hinges on one individual,” he said. The announcement has opened a wide-ranging succession contest ahead of the party’s federal congress and it came just hours before the DA reveals its Western Cape mayoral committee candidates for the upcoming local government elections which is set to take place today at 11am in Cape Town.

Addressing supporters, colleagues and family in eThekwini, Steenhuisen framed his decision as the completion of a political mission rather than a retreat under pressure, saying he had fulfilled the mandate he received when elected DA federal leader in 2019. “As I stood there looking out over South Africa’s capital city, I realised: it is mission accomplished for me,” he said, reflecting on a recent visit to the Union Buildings. “I have delivered everything that I promised my party when I was first elected as Federal Leader back in 2019.” Steenhuisen confirmed that he would instead focus his full attention on his role as Minister of Agriculture in the Government of National Unity (GNU), particularly the fight against what he described as the most devastating foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the country’s history.

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“That is not a part-time job,” he said. “It would not be fair to the incredible farmers of South Africa for me to split my time between battling the worst FMD outbreak ever and running an internal campaign for the next three months.” Seepe said Steenhuisen’s decision reflected a rare but constructive leadership choice in South African politics, where leaders often cling to office long after their influence has waned. “There is something positive about a leader stepping down when he feels his time is up, or when he believes he no longer commands support within the organisation,” Seepe said.

Seepe also dismissed suggestions that Steenhuisen’s exit would undermine the DA’s role in the GNU, saying the party had been clear-eyed about its objectives from the outset. “The DA has been frank that it is not in government to save the ANC, but to weaken the ANC’s electoral dominance. That strategic objective would not be frustrated by a single individual,” he said.

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