John Steenhuisen, leader of South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) and minister of agriculture in the government of national unity (GNU), announced he will not seek re-election as party leader in April. He cited the need to focus entirely on combating a severe foot-and-mouth disease outbreak devastating the country’s livestock.
Steenhuisen, 49, has led the pro-business DA since 2019 and guided it into the ten-party coalition formed after the 2024 national elections. The DA’s entry into the GNU was credited with boosting investor confidence. However, his tenure has been marked by internal disputes and scrutiny over his handling of the current foot-and-mouth crisis, which he describes as the “worst ever” to hit South Africa.
The outbreak prompted the government in January to launch a decade-long plan to vaccinate 20 million cattle. This week, farmer lobby groups accused Steenhuisen in court of obstructing private-sector efforts to control the disease’s spread, adding pressure to his administration. His decision follows the controversial firing of the former environment minister in November and ongoing party grievances.
Steenhuisen’s withdrawal from the leadership race is widely seen as an attempt by the DA to project stability and unity ahead of pivotal local government elections later this year. The party, which governs the well-performing Western Cape province and Cape Town, is positioning itself as a competent alternative to the African National Congress (ANC). The ANC, which lost its 30-year national majority in 2024 amid accusations of misgovernance and corruption, now relies on coalition partners to maintain power.
The DA claims its support is at historic highs, targeting voters disillusioned with the ANC’s record in municipal management. Steenhuisen’s departure creates a clear leadership contest within the opposition’s second-largest party, a key player in the fragile GNU coalition.
Hisphasis on eradicating foot-and-mouth disease frames his next phase as a dedicated technical mission, potentially distancing himself from the political turbulence that surrounded his final months as party leader. The effectiveness of the national vaccination drive and the DA’s performance in the upcoming local elections will be closely watched as indicators of South Africa’s governance stability.
