Former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has emerged as the party’s choice for South Africa’s ambassadorial post to the Netherlands.
Africa Daily has reliably learnt that his name forms part of a shortlist submitted to the Presidency for consideration.
According to Africa Daily sources with knowledge of the process, the DA recently submitted three names for ambassadorial appointments, with Steenhuisen identified as its preferred candidate for the posting to the Netherlands.
The submission came just days after Steenhuisen’s demotion in Cabinet, while the political fallout from the reshuffle was still unfolding within the DA.
Steenhuisen was removed as Minister of Agriculture and appointed Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition as part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet reshuffle.
The move followed a request by Steenhuisen’s successor as DA federal leader and Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, who initiated a broader restructuring of the party’s executive deployments.
The reshuffle came amid mounting political and public criticism over Steenhuisen’s handling of South Africa’s foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. As part of the changes, Willie Aucamp vacated his position as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to take over the Agriculture portfolio.
Aucamp has since appointed new members to form part of the industry co-operation council (ICC), a council which “ plays a crucial role in the Department of Agriculture’s efforts to beat FMD in South Africa. The council is made up out of industry role players and was established to ensure that industry plays an active and coordinated role in supporting the rollout of the National FMD strategy.”
After his demotion, Steenhuisen expressed deep disappointment over his removal, describing it as a betrayal and likening the decision to “giving my head to a baying mob of hyenas”.
The nomination adds a new dimension to questions surrounding Steenhuisen’s political future, coming as he also faces renewed internal scrutiny following the referral of a disciplinary complaint to the DA’s Federal Legal Commission.
While the Presidency ultimately decides on ambassadorial appointments, the DA’s nomination signals that the party still considers Steenhuisen suitable for one of South Africa’s most significant diplomatic postings.
The Netherlands mission is among South Africa’s most strategically important foreign postings.
In addition to overseeing bilateral relations with the Dutch government, the ambassador is based in The Hague, home to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where South Africa has led high-profile legal proceedings on the international stage.
The position is currently held by Ambassador Vusi Madonsela, who remains South Africa’s envoy to the Netherlands, with no official announcement having been made regarding his replacement.