PRETORIA, GAUTENG — In a significant political development within the Government of National Unity, Geordin Hill-Lewis has formally requested a Cabinet reshuffle that will see John Steenhuisen demoted from his current role. The Democratic Alliance leader’s proposed changes signal a major strategic shift for the party as it consolidates power ahead of future elections.
According to a recent statement, Hill-Lewis has written to the President outlining several changes affecting DA members serving in the national executive. The primary proposal involves Willie Aucamp replacing Steenhuisen as the Minister of Agriculture. Steenhuisen would subsequently be moved to the position of Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. Meanwhile, David Maynier is slated to take over Aucamp’s current portfolio of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
Addressing the request, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magu confirmed receipt of the proposals, stating that President Cyril Ramaphosa will apply his mind to the matter and that an official announcement will be made in due course.
The proposed shake-up comes just two months into Hill-Lewis’s tenure as party leader, though political analysts note the move has been a long time coming. Even prior to the DA Congress held on April 11 and 12, powerful factions within the party were openly advocating for Steenhuisen’s removal from the agriculture portfolio.
Steenhuisen previously played a pivotal role in maintaining the GNU. During periods when the DA felt mistreated by the ANC, factions led by figures such as Helen Zille pushed to exit the GNU arrangement. Steenhuisen, who was the party leader at the time, successfully defied these calls and preserved the coalition, earning him a strong working relationship with President Ramaphosa. However, with Hill-Lewis now at the helm—having won the leadership by a landslide after Steenhuisen opted not to contest—the internal political landscape has inevitably shifted.
A significant factor driving the reshuffle appears to be the management of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. The DA is keen to avoid being perceived as failing in governance, similar to criticisms leveled against the ANC. Since farmers form a core constituency of the Democratic Alliance, poor handling of the crisis poses a direct threat to the party’s primary goal of becoming the largest political party in South Africa. Reports suggest that when confronted about these shortcomings, Steenhuisen was allegedly dismissive rather than acknowledging and correcting the apparent failures.
While the demotion to a deputy ministerial role is viewed by some as a “soft landing” that keeps him employed, it effectively strips him of executive decision-making power. Deputy ministers operate under the directive of their respective ministers without holding true executive authority, making the shift a painful downgrade for someone who was central to the GNU’s formation. Notably, the controversy surrounding the use of a party credit card and personal financial matters did not influence this decision, as Steenhuisen was previously cleared of those allegations.
Willie Aucamp, who is a farmer by profession, is positioned to take the helm at the Agriculture Ministry. While the final appointment remains the President’s prerogative, the internal reorganization is fundamentally Hill-Lewis’s decision. During the early teething problems of the GNU, it was firmly established that the ANC cannot dictate the DA’s internal cabinet makeup. The President is expected to respect the party’s submitted names, making the formal approval a mere formality.
Despite wielding the axe early in his leadership, Hill-Lewis is not immediately joining the national cabinet. He has indicated his intention to remain in Cape Town to see the Western Cape campaign through and to consolidate the party’s standing in areas like the City of Johannesburg, where Helen Zille has been deployed. It is widely predicted that he will not finish his current term as the Mayor of Cape Town, likely transitioning to national politics following the next national and provincial elections to fully lead the party on a national stage.
