PRETORIA – President Cyril Ramaphosa’s latest cabinet reshuffle has significantly reconfigured the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) roles within the Government of National Unity (GNU), prompting widespread analysis of the shifting political power dynamics. The recent adjustments, which include the redeployment of key figures and the return of a controversial former minister, have raised critical questions about the future of governance and internal party stability.
The reshuffle affects several DA positions within the GNU. Key appointments include Willem Aucamp as the new Minister of Agriculture, David Maynier as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Alexandra Abrahams as Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Jack Bloom as Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, and Yusuf Cassim as Deputy Minister of Higher Education. Additionally, Dina Pule has been appointed as the Minister of Social Development, filling a previously vacant portfolio.
Perhaps the most notable change is the redeployment of John Steenhuisen, who moves from his position as Minister of Agriculture to Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. Political analyst Dr. Levy Ndou notes that this move was widely anticipated, as the DA had previously written a letter to the President requesting Steenhuisen’s redeployment.
While the ANC’s loss of a majority means that coalition partners like the DA have greater input into cabinet structuring, Dr. Ndou emphasizes that the President retains the final constitutional prerogative to make these decisions.
Steenhuisen’s shift is widely viewed as a demotion, signaling a shift in standing under the DA’s new leadership. According to Dr. Ndou, the new party leadership appears to be implementing a different strategic vision, which may involve restructuring deployments to align with their goals. However, this shift has not been without personal friction; Steenhuisen was previously expected to remain in his agricultural portfolio to see through the foot-and-mouth disease project.
The redeployment has also brought internal party conflicts to the forefront. Steenhuisen recently raised allegations against former DA leader Tony Leon and others, suggesting that private lobbying and back-channel communications were influencing ministerial decisions. Dr. Ndou observes that these allegations may stem from frustration or a sense of betrayal over his redeployment.
“This puts the Democratic Alliance in a very difficult situation because the DA has to account for all these issues,” Dr. Ndou explained. He questioned whether Steenhuisen raised these concerns specifically because he was aggrieved by his redeployment, or if he would have exposed them regardless. Dr. Ndou warned that the intense competition for strategic government positions within the DA is breeding betrayal and internal friction. If the party fails to manage these tensions effectively, he cautioned, it could lead to a disastrous future for the organization.
The reshuffle also marked the return of Dina Pule to the cabinet as Minister of Social Development. Pule previously vacated her ministerial position due to controversial issues. Dr. Ndou pointed out that the ANC has a historical tendency to retain veteran politicians—often criticized as recycling older figures—and that officeholders are generally reluctant to leave power.
While the President has the constitutional prerogative to make such appointments, Dr. Ndou argued that Ramaphosa owes the public a clear explanation regarding Pule’s return, particularly given her age and the controversial circumstances surrounding her previous exit from the cabinet.
