John Steenhuisen Steps Down as DA Leader Amidst Controversies

Thu Feb 05 2026 00:20:57 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a surprising announcement, John Steenhuisen, leader of South Africa's Democratic Alliance, shares he will not seek re-election, raising questions about the future of the party and the coalition government amid mounting pressures.

John Steenhuisen, the leader of South Africa's Democratic Alliance (DA), has announced that he will not run for re-election, a decision that could significantly impact the stability of the coalition government. Having served as the leader since 2019, Steenhuisen plans to focus on his role as agriculture minister, particularly in response to a severe foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. His decision follows controversies and leadership challenges within the party which could jeopardize the DA's future.

John Steenhuisen Steps Down as DA Leader Amidst Controversies

In a surprising announcement, John Steenhuisen, leader of South Africa's Democratic Alliance (DA), revealed that he will not seek re-election as party leader at the upcoming conference in April. This unexpected decision raises significant concerns about the continuity and stability of the coalition government formed with the African National Congress (ANC) in 2024.

Steenhuisen has been the DA's head since 2019 and currently holds the position of agriculture minister in President Cyril Ramaphosa's government. While it was widely anticipated that he would run unopposed for re-election, internal party controversies and leadership challenges may have compelled him to step back.

For the rest of this term of office, I will focus all of my time and energy as minister of agriculture on defeating the most devastating foot-and-mouth disease outbreak our country has ever seen, Steenhuisen stated at a press briefing.

After taking over the DA's leadership, Steenhuisen faced various challenges, including allegations of inappropriate use of party funds and criticism over his response to the ongoing livestock health crisis due to foot-and-mouth disease.

As he steps down from the leadership role, many are left pondering what this means for the DA's future and the viability of its coalition with the ANC, marking a significant moment in South African politics.