By Lehlohonolo Lehana in Midrand.
With tears welling up in his eyes, the outgoing Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen delivered his final address at the party’s Federal Congress in Gallagher Estates, Johannesburg on Saturday.
About 2,000 delegates are attending the congress, as the party prepares for the elections and sets out its campaign plans.
Steenhuisen will not seek re-election and has vowed to continue serving the party in parliament and government.
“The legacy that I leave behind for the democratic alliance. For me it is mission accomplished. I hand over the baton of leadership with immense pride and complete confidence,”
“The DA today is stronger, larger, more relevant and more influential than any time in our history. We’re no longer a regional party or a perpetual opposition, we are a national force for reform.”
Steenhuisen warned the next generation, about the challenges ahead as the party faces a balancing act of being an opposition party and coalition partner.
“Democrats, the road ahead will have challenges, it always does, but the foundations that we have built together are solid.”
He said over the years the party accomplished important governance issues including the prevention of Tax increase.
“The only reason that our economy is showing signs of life is because the DA accomplished our moonshot mission to enter a national governing coalition.”
“It was in 2019 when the members of this great organisation first entrusted me with the responsibility to rebuild the DA, a mandate that you renewed twice in 2020 and 2023. We have done so much together, friends, thank you.”
“The party that we inherited in 2019 was on its knees, polling at 16%, divided and ravaged by a crisis of confidence. The media confidently proclaimed the death of the DA, but together the people in this room refused to accept decline as our destiny,” he said.
“He also expressed gratitude to his family, colleagues and supporters, calling his time as leader “the greatest privilege” of his life.
The conference will elect the new leadership on Sunday.
Geordin Hill-Lewis and Sibusiso Dyonase are contesting the top post, to succeed Steenhuisen. The results are expected tomorrow Midday.
The African National Congress (ANC) has remained in government ever since, with the DA joining it for the first time after the 2024 election failed to produce an outright winner.
The DA secured six ministerial posts in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet, with Steenhuisen holding the agriculture portfolio.
As the former leader of the opposition, and now minister, Steenhuisen was caught between making the government work while trying to appease his supporters – and prove to them that he is delivering in government. But the 49-year-old has faced intense criticism from farmers over his failure to contain the foot-and-mouth disease, which has devastated South Africa’s livestock industry.