John Steenhuisen, the leader of South Africa’s Democratic Alliance, has confirmed he will step down and will not seek another term at the party’s leadership election in April.
The announcement comes at a crucial moment for the country’s coalition government, which the DA entered into with the African National Congress in 2024 after the ANC failed to secure a parliamentary majority.
Steenhuisen, who became DA leader in 2019, also serves as the country’s agriculture minister under President Cyril Ramaphosa.
His decision not to contest the top party post was unexpected, as he had been widely expected to run again and face little opposition at the upcoming conference.
Speaking to reporters, Steenhuisen explained his priorities. “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,” he said.
The 49-year-old began his political journey at 22 when he was elected to Durban’s city council for the Democratic Party, which later became the Democratic Alliance.
He steadily advanced through local and regional roles before taking over as party leader nearly twenty years later. Traditionally, the DA draws most of its support from white voters, although it has tried to expand its base over the years.
While he had been expected to run unopposed, a mix of challenges appears to have influenced his decision. This includes disagreements with former Environment Affairs Minister Dion George and allegations that he misused a party credit card, from which he was cleared in January.
Steenhuisen has also faced scrutiny over his handling of the country’s ongoing foot-and-mouth outbreak. Farmers have described the department as an “obstacle in a crisis,” according to News24. The disease, which has spread across most provinces over the past four years, has severely affected livestock production.
Foot-and-mouth disease causes blisters inside the mouths and on the hooves of animals, leading to lameness and difficulty feeding. Dairy cows lose milk, and the value of infected livestock drops permanently.
Under Steenhuisen, the DA agreed to join the ANC-led government of national unity nearly two years ago, following the party’s historic loss of parliamentary control—the first time since 1994 that the ANC had failed to govern alone.
The coalition has experienced friction but has remained in place, with Steenhuisen and Ramaphosa showing that cooperation is possible despite differences.
This partnership was notably visible during a visit to the United States in May last year, when the leaders faced President Donald Trump over a video supporting discredited claims of white genocide in South Africa.
Steenhuisen assured Trump that most white farmers wished to remain in the country, demonstrating the unity government’s ability to respond effectively on the international stage.
No official candidates have emerged to replace Steenhuisen, though Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has been suggested as a likely contender. Hill-Lewis, a close ally, has stated he would not challenge Steenhuisen personally, according to TimesLive.
