Theolin Tembo|Published38 minutes agoMacpherson lauds Steenhuisen’s selfless decision to step down as DA leader

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, who is a close friend and ally of the Democratic Alliance’s Federal Leader, John Steenhuisen, said Steenhuisen chose to put the needs of the country first when he opted out of running for a third term. In a significant move for the Democratic Alliance, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, praised his close ally and party leader, John Steenhuisen, for prioritising the nation’s needs over personal ambition by opting out of a third term. Macpherson, who is also the DA’s provincial chairperson for KwaZulu-Natal, addressed the Cape Town Press Club on Thursday about not only the institutional challenges and governance failures he encountered upon entering the department in July 2024, but also spoke about Steenhuisen’s decision not to seek re-election.

Steenhuisen, who was present in Cape Town for the announcement of theparty’s Western Cape mayoral candidates, said: “Many would be aware of myannouncement in Durban yesterdaythat I will not seek a third term as Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance in April. “I am stepping aside precisely because I have achieved my goal for the party: to take us into national government and grow our support base. “I reiterate what I said yesterday: I believe I am handing over a party in much better shape than it was handed to me in 2019,” Steenhuisen said. “I am full of hope and confidence in the direction our country is going, as a result of the great strides the DA has made in recent years, at local and national levels.