DA leader Steenhuisen forgoes party's leadership race

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has confirmed his withdrawal from the party's leadership contest.

Steenhuisen said he will not be throwing his name in the hat to fight to retain his role as the DA’s federal leader.

He made the announcement during a media briefing in Durban on Wednesday.

The party is preparing for its national elective congress in April.

Steenhuisen said his priority is now to focus on dealing with the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in his capacity as Agriculture Minister.

"I now have another mission and it is urgent. 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 outbreak our country has ever seen."

He hailed himself as the party’s most successful leader, saying it was under his leadership that the DA moved from opposition into government.

“Mission accomplished”, that’s how Steenhuisen described his seven-year tenure as leader of the DA.

ALSO READ: Steenhuisen expected to bow out of DA’s leadership race

Steenhuisen said this was his primary goal, and now that it has been achieved, he believes it is time to hand over the reigns to someone who can take the party forward.

With the DA preparing for the upcoming local government elections, Steenhuisen aded that he cannot devote his full attention to both party leadership and tackling the devastating foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

"This is not the end of the road for the DA, and it’s certainly not the end of the road for me. The way I see it is that there is an important next mission that beckons for our party. And as to build upon my legacy and the DA’s success in the GNU [Government of National Unity] and that’s to turn our party into the biggest in South Africa, so that we can lead future coalition government, local, provincial, and national level. But, ladies and gentlemen, that is the mission of the next leader."

Insiders believe that Steenhuisen’s withdrawal from the leadership race paves the way for Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis to take over the reins.

Hill-Lewis has previously said on several occasions that he would not challenge Steenhuisen, his close friend, for the DA’s top position.