DURBAN - It’s confirmed. Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen is exiting the party’s upcoming leadership race.
The DA leader and Minister of Agriculture made the announcement on Wednesday in his hometown of Durban.
The announcement comes as the party prepares for its Federal Congress, which is scheduled to take place in April, where a new leader will be elected.
Addressing the media, Steenhuisen started the briefing by acknowledging people who have supported his political career.
He mapped out the party’s successes under his leadership, including steering its role in the Government of National Unity, in addition to regaining outright control of the Western Cape.
He added that he had also delivered on his pledge to turn the DA into a national party, including empowering younger leaders within the party.
Announcing his decision, he said he had accomplished his mission in the party.
“This is not the end of the road for the DA, and it is not the end of the road for me. I now have another mission," Steenhuisen said.
He said for the rest of his term, he will focus his energy as Minister of Agriculture to contain the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease.
"My next chapter is to eradicate this disease from our shores," he said.
“It has been the honour of a lifetime to lead the party on top of the union steps. For three elective conferences, we have done some great things. I told you that we would land our moonshot and keep out the doomsday coalition. And today, I simply say, ‘mission accomplished’.”
To applause, Steenhuisen said his work in government requires him to pour his energy into defeating foot-and-mouth disease.
“I do so with the knowledge that in April will hand over the reins to a fundamentally healthier party than I inherited. Instead of 16 percent, the DA is now polling at 30 percent and is within striking distance of becoming the biggest political party in South Africa.”
Steeinhuisen said the next leader of the party will have his full support, adding:
“A true test of whether you love a thing is the ability to let it go when the time is right. I have loved leading the DA, which is why today, I let it go with a smile on my face and triumphant peace in my heart."
“The DA I leave behind, co-governs a country that is firmly on the up. It’s now up to the next generation of leadership, to ensure that the DA continues to do so with ever-growing confidence. I love my party and I love my country. I will continue to work every day to ensure the success of both,” he said, ending his address.
Steenhuisen’s announcement comes amid growing internal tensions within the DA, including his public spat with former DA Federal Finance Chair Dion George.
In a scathing attack on Steenhuisen before he quit the party in January, George claimed Steenhuisen was captured by the African National Congress and other criminal interests.
READ | Dion George: Steenhuisen has been captured by the ANC
George had previously accused Steenhuisen of misusing an official DA credit card, however, the party’s probe cleared him. A probe found that the expenditure on the card was fully reconciled.
In recent months, as Minister of Agriculture, Steenhuisen has faced immense pressure from farmers for the department to come up with concrete strategies to contain the rising cases of foot-and-mouth disease, threatening food security.
This week, farmers took the matter to court, drawing even more scrutiny for Steenhuisen. In the court action, lobby groups have accused Steenhuisen of blocking private sector efforts to help curb the spread of the disease.