Steenhuisen will not seek re-election as DA leader

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen addresses the media in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal on February 4, 2026.

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has announced that he will not seek re-election at the party’s Federal Congress in April.

Steehuisen, who is also Agriculture Minister in the Government of National Unity, says he wants to shift his focus to eradicating the Foot-and-Mouth disease.

His political career started 30 years ago.

Addressing the media in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday, Steenhuisen said: “Today I announce that I will not seek re-election for the third term as the DA federal leader in the upcoming Federal Congress and I do so with a full heart knowing that I’ve accomplished my moonshot mission.”

He says, “My work at government now requires me to similarly pour my heart and soul and my full energy into defeating foot-and-mouth disease. I also do so in the knowledge that I, in April, will hand over the reins to a fundamentally healthier party to the one that I inherit.”