Steenhuisen expected to make announcement likely to impact his political career

With the Democratic Alliance (DA)’s next national elective congress just two months away, the leadership race is heating up amid speculation that John Steenhuisen may withdraw from the contest.

At the end of February, the party is expected to officially open nominations for those planning to run for party leader.

While insiders claim Steenhuisen may be bowing out, he's expected to make an announcement on Wednesday that will impact his political future.

ALSO READ: DA leader John Steenhuisen dismisses rumours of leadership exit

It was in 2019 when Steenhuisen rose through the ranks of the DA, after being appointed interim leader following Mmusi Maimane’s acrimonious resignation.

A year later, Steenhuisen was officially elected by the party’s Federal Congress to serve as its leader, winning against former MPL Mbali Ntuli with a commanding 80% lead.

The party’s 2023 federal congress saw Steenhuisen repeat that feat, thrashing former Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse.

While sources now claim the DA leader will no longer run for a third term, they anticipate that Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, and Steenhuisen's ally, will likely step up to the plate.

Political analyst Dirk Kotze said Steenhuisen's legacy will be the leader who led the party from the opposition into government.

“The role of John Steenhuisen was to try to stabilise the party, which, to a large extent, I think he did.”

He suspects Steenhuisen’s leadership ambitions may have been eclipsed by former leader Helen Zille’s active involvement in the party as the Federal Council chairperson.