The leader of South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-largest party in the country’s governing coalition, said on Wednesday he will not seek re-election, triggering a significant political shift ahead of upcoming local government polls.
The pro-business DA, which was credited with helping restore investor confidence after joining a 10-party coalition government in 2024, has faced months of internal turmoil linked to the leadership of John Steenhuisen.
Steenhuisen, 49, who also serves as agriculture minister in the government of national unity (GNU), said he would not contest a third term at the party’s leadership elections in April, citing the need to focus on a severe foot-and-mouth disease outbreak affecting livestock nationwide.
“After leading the DA into the GNU, my next chapter must be to eradicate this devastating disease from our shores once and for all,” he said.
South Africa launched a 10-year vaccination campaign in January aimed at immunising 20 million cattle against the disease, which Steenhuisen has described as the worst outbreak on record. However, his handling of the crisis has drawn criticism. Farmer groups this week took legal action, accusing him of obstructing private sector initiatives to help contain the spread.
First elected DA leader in 2019, Steenhuisen has also faced scrutiny over the dismissal of the environment minister in November and a series of internal party complaints.
His decision to step aside is widely seen as an attempt by the DA to dispel perceptions of instability as it heads into local elections later this year. The party says it is polling at historically high levels and is seeking to capitalise on voter frustration with the long-dominant African National Congress (ANC).
The ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years in the 2024 national elections, following years of criticism over corruption and poor governance, forcing it into coalition talks.
The DA currently governs the Western Cape province and the city of Cape Town, which are often cited as among South Africa’s best-managed administrations.
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