From opposition to government: Steenhuisen declines third term as DA leader

Following the decision by outgoing Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen to withdraw from the party’s leadership race, insiders expect that Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis would throw his hat in the ring as his successor.

Steenhuisen announced at a media briefing in Durban on Wednesday that he would not seek re-election for a third term.

He described the party’s successes in the 2024 elections as his greatest achievement, noting that he led the DA from the opposition into government.

Steenhuisen said he would continue serving as Minister of Agriculture until the end of his term in office, focusing on combating the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

The DA is set to hold its federal congress in April, where new leaders will be elected to lead the party over the next three years.

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DA leader Steenhuisen forgoes party's leadership race

Next month, the party will open nominations for those interested in contesting its top position, and insiders suggested that Hill-Lewis was likely to enter the race.

The outgoing leader said his key achievement was leading the DA into government, but added that the next leader’s mission would be to make the party the largest in the country.

“Previous chapters of our party’s history were marked by the party becoming the official opposition and entering provincial government in the Western Cape. My tenure will be remembered for leading the party into national government and putting South Africa on a new path to prosperity,” Steenhuisen said.

Following his media briefing, Steenhuisen declined to take questions from journalists but claimed that his decision to withdraw from the leadership race was entirely voluntary.