John Steenhuisen’s exit from DA race unmasks turmoil with Helen Zille

DA leader John Steenhuisen is said to have withdrawn from racing to retain his position after being frustrated by the party’s Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille. DA leader John Steenhuisen’s withdrawal from the campaign to be re-elected to the position in the next party elective conference in April has been linked to his strained relationship with Helen Zille, the party’s Federal Council chairperson. A source, who is well-placed within the DA’s national office and close to Steenhuisen, said that although the leader withdrew from the race in order to focus on the Department of Agriculture, where he is the minister, his decision was also driven by being tired of being undermined.

The source said the party and government responsibilities had made Steenhuisen exhausted, as the Foot-and-Mouth Disease demanded lots of his attention and focus. “Many of the provinces had asked him not to pull out, but I think he had just had it because the relationship between him and Zille was also no longer so good. “You cannot be a leader of the party and have somebody that is the secretary-general (Federal Council chairperson) of the party trying to work against you,” said the source, who added that the two leaders’ relationship was no longer solid. Seven provinces were solidly behind him while his support in the Western Cape and Gauteng was divided, the source said.