DA salutes Steenhuisen after six-year tenure as leader
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has formally thanked John Steenhuisen for six years of “determined leadership” as party leader.
Speaking in Durban on Wednesday, Steenhuisen announced he would not seek a third term at the helm of the DA, saying his full attention would now shift to his responsibilities as Minister of Agriculture in South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU).
The decision ends a tenure marked by internal consolidation, electoral gains and the party’s long-sought entry into national government.
In a statement, the DA credited Steenhuisen with steering the party through a volatile political period and delivering a breakthrough that reshaped the national landscape.
“Under his leadership, the DA not only strengthened its institutional stability and electoral performance, but achieved a historic breakthrough by entering national government, a long-standing objective pursued by successive generations of DA leaders,” the party said.
The DA described the move into national government as a defining moment, arguing it demonstrated the party’s capacity to govern beyond opposition politics.
It said the achievement reflected Steenhuisen’s persistence in positioning the DA as a viable alternative to ANC dominance, particularly at a time of growing voter frustration and political fragmentation.
Central to that shift was the Moonshot Pact, initiated under Steenhuisen’s leadership, which laid the groundwork for post-election cooperation and ultimately the formation of the GNU.
The DA said the pact helped usher in a new phase of coalition politics, forcing parties to prioritise compromise, accountability and shared governance.
Electorally, Steenhuisen oversaw growth in both the 2021 local government elections and the pivotal 2024 national vote, reinforcing the DA’s status in Parliament and government.
As he turns his focus to agriculture, the DA highlighted the urgency of his ministerial role, particularly in responding to the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
“South Africa’s farmers, rural communities, and food security will benefit from the full-time attention of Steenhuisen,” the party said, wishing him strength in the task ahead.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
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