John Steenhuisen, the leader of South Africa’s Democratic Alliance since 2019, has stepped aside from the party’s leadership race and will devote his attention to managing a severe foot-and-mouth disease outbreak that has drawn heavy criticism of his handling of the crisis, the party and his office said Friday.
Steenhuisen — who, according to party sources, also served as agriculture minister — had been expected to run unopposed for another term but withdrew amid internal disputes and lingering controversies that party officials said made a clean contest unlikely.
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- Steenhuisen led the DA into a historic coalition with the African National Congress nearly two years ago after the party lost its outright majority.
- He has faced criticism for the response to a widespread foot-and-mouth disease outbreak that has affected livestock and trade.
- No candidate has yet declared for the DA leadership; Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis is widely mentioned as a potential successor.
The decision to step aside follows growing tensions within the DA over direction and leadership. Party insiders said the move reflects both the fallout from past disputes and a recognition that Steenhuisen’s immediate focus must be on the agricultural emergency that threatens farmers, regional trade and export markets.
Steenhuisen’s withdrawal removes a figure who has been central to the DA’s recent repositioning. Nearly two years ago he helped negotiate a coalition with the ruling ANC after the DA lost its majority in a provincial or municipal contest, an alignment that many in the party resisted. Despite public tensions, Steenhuisen and President Cyril Ramaphosa have maintained occasional displays of unity; they appeared together at a meeting that included former U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year.
Party officials did not announce a timetable for choosing an interim leader or opening nominations. The absence of declared candidates leaves a wide field for potential contenders, though attention has quickly turned to Geordin Hill-Lewis, the mayor of Cape Town, who is viewed by some within the DA as a consensus-building option.
Opponents and some agricultural groups have singled out Steenhuisen’s handling of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, saying delays and missteps have compounded economic losses for livestock producers and complicated export certification. The DA statement said Steenhuisen will “focus all energies” on coordinating with national and provincial authorities to contain the disease and assist affected communities.
Analysts said the leadership vacuum presents both risk and opportunity for the DA. The party must manage internal fractures while preparing for upcoming local and national contests; its next leader will need to balance coalition commitments, rural and urban voter concerns, and the immediate agricultural emergency.
How the DA moves from an unsettled transition to a unified front — and whether Hill-Lewis or another figure emerges quickly as a successor — will shape the party’s strategy over the coming months.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
