Steenhuisen steps down: Touts legacy of 'empowered' young leaders

Outgoing Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen said that he was leaving behind a strong pool of talented and capable leaders within the party.

On Wednesday, Steenhuisen announced he would not seek re-election as the party’s federal leader when his term ends in April.

Speculation has already been rife over who might succeed him, with many in the DA pointing to Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis as a top contender.

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Steenhuisen expressed confidence that there were countless capable leaders in the organisation.

“In fact, one of the things I am most proud of is the pool of talent I actively nurtured in the DA. Whether it is Siviwe Gwarube, Ashor Sarupen, Leon Schreiber, Dean Macpherson, Solly Malatsi, Mimmy Gondwe or Sello Seitlolo as ministers and deputy ministers, or Geordin Hill-Lewis and Cilliers Brink as mayors of metropolitan cities, these talented young leaders and many others like them, became household names during my tenure because I worked to empower them at every turn,” Steenhuisen said.

He said it was not the end of the road for the party.

“Rather than insecurely fearing competition, the mark of a true leader is to foster talent wherever it can be found. Because, as these excellent young leaders continue to shine in the DA for many years to come, it will always reflect on the leader who first believed in them.”