Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen is expected to brief the media in Durban on Wednesday, returning to the city where his political career began three decades ago.
SABC News has reliably learnt that Steenhuisen will not stand for re-election at the party’s upcoming Federal Congress, signalling a potential leadership change in South Africa’s second-largest opposition party.
DA Federal Chairperson Helen Zille has dismissed speculation of internal discord, rejecting claims that tensions within the party have influenced the reported decision.
Political analyst Dr Piet Croucamp, however, said a leadership transition may be necessary, suggesting that some members have lost confidence in Steenhuisen.
“It might even be that he’s lost the confidence of Helen Zille,” Croucamp said.
He added that while the DA continues to attract support, it has struggled to convert potential voters into ballots.
“Various statistics show that around three million black South Africans are prepared to vote for the DA, but they don’t do so. The question is, why not? I think there’s something ideologically alienating in the party,” he said.
Croucamp pointed to Western Cape Premier Geordin Hill-Lewis as an example of leadership that has resonated with voters, describing him as a capable administrator.
Steenhuisen has led the DA since 2019 and is expected to clarify his position during Wednesday’s address, a moment that could mark the end of an era for the party, or at least the start of a reshuffle.