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John Steenhuisen, leader of South Africa’s second-largest party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), announced on Wednesday that he would not seek re-election as party leader, marking a significant shift in the country’s ruling coalition ahead of local polls.
Steenhuisen, who also serves as Agriculture Minister in the Government of National Unity (GNU), said he is stepping back to focus on combating a severe foot-and-mouth disease outbreak affecting local livestock.
The government recently launched a 10-year programme to vaccinate 20 million cattle, with Steenhuisen describing the outbreak as the “worst ever.”
First elected DA leader in 2019, Steenhuisen has faced scrutiny over his management of the outbreak, the dismissal of the Environment Minister last November, and internal party disputes.
His decision not to contest the party elections in April is seen as a move to quell perceptions of disarray within the DA ahead of local government elections later this year.
The pro-business DA, credited with restoring confidence in South Africa when it joined the 10-party coalition in 2024, currently governs the Western Cape province and its capital, Cape Town, widely regarded as a well-managed municipality.
Party officials say the DA, which claims historically high polling numbers, aims to capitalise on voter dissatisfaction with the African National Congress (ANC), which lost its 30-year majority in the 2024 national elections and was forced to form coalitions due to accusations of corruption and mismanagement.
