Macpherson dismisses claims Steenhuisen was pushed out of DA leadership race

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen’s long-serving campaign manager - Dean Macpherson - has dismissed suggestions that he has been pushed out of the leadership race when the party elects new leaders in April.

After announcing on Wednesday that he would not be seeking re-election to focus on his ministerial work, Macpherson said Steenhuisen should be lauded for bowing out when a repeat victory was almost certain.

Speaking at the Cape Town Press Club on Thursday, Macpherson insisted Steenhuisen took the decision of his own accord and did not succumb to pressure from any sector to retract his plans to make another run for the party’s top job.

At the helm of the party since 2019, just two weeks ago Steenhuisen indicated that he would very likely throw his hat in the ring again at the party’s federal congress.

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Longtime confidante and KwaZulu-Natal provincial leader Macpherson believes Steenhuisen would have emerged victorious for another three-year term.

“Show me a political leader that could have won an elective conference and chose not to stand. I think that that is very commendable of him.”

Amid reports that unhappy party donors and farming groups have been behind Steenhuisen’s sudden about-turn, Macpherson said they don’t dictate policy, leadership or decision-making within the party.

“I think that if donors did dictate decisions of the party, that would lead to a very slippery slope where he who has the biggest cheque gets the quickest answer.”

Unveiling eight mayoral candidates for the Western Cape on Thursday, Steenhuisen said while he has achieved what he set out to do as leader - he remains committed to campaigning for a successful local government election outcome for the party.