By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Presidency confirmed that Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Geordin Hill Lewis has submitted a request to the president regarding changes affecting party members that are serving in the national executive.
In a statement to Fullview, Hill-Lewis said following a careful assessment of the DA’s team in the Government of National Unity (GNU), I have written to President Cyril Ramaphosa setting out several changes to the DA’s representation in the National Executive.
“It is my judgement that the renewed team announced today will strengthen the DA’s contribution to government and give better effect to the mandate received from 3.5 million voters in the 2024 elections, said Hill-Lewis.”
John Steenhuisen will be stripped the agriculture portfolio, offering him a deputy minister of trade, industry and competition, citing an internal evaluation led by Ryan Coetzee, the DA’s head of strategy.
Alexandra Abrahams, the current DA deputy minister at the trade department, would become deputy minister of electricity.
Willie Aucamp, the current minister for forestry, fisheries and the environment, would succeed Steenhuisen.
David Maynier, the Western Cape province’s leader for education, would replace Aucamp in then environment portfolio, the statement said.
Since taking office as the Minister of Agriculture, he has faced several high-profile controversies, administrative problems, and legal challenges.
The ongoing management of a severe Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak has drawn immense criticism from the agricultural sector.
Steenhuisen’s department has been widely criticised for maintaining exclusive state control over vaccine distribution.
Steenhuisen previously proposed moving Dr. Dion George from his environment post and the Environment to become the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.
George rejected the demotion, and was subsequently removed from the executive by Ramaphosa.
Other changes will see Yusuf Cassim, who has served on the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and has roots in student politics, will be appointed Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training.
Jack Bloom, longest-serving member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature will take up the position of Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation.
The presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya said, “The president will apply his mind and an announcement will be made in due course.”
The DA is one of 10 parties that form part of a coalition government set up by African National Congress following elections in 2024 that didn’t produce an outright winner.