Mapaballo Borotho
- John Steenhuisen has warned that the DA leaving the GNU would be a serious mistake for the party.
- His comments come as he prepares to step down as the leader of the blue party.
- Attention is now turning to potential successors amid reports of internal divisions over the GNU.
Outgoing Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen has warned that any future decision by the party to leave the Government of National Unity (GNU) would be a catastrophic mistake.
This follows his announcement last week that he will not be seeking a third term at the DA’s elective congress in April.
The DA joined the GNU after the ANC lost its outright majority in the 2024 national elections.
Steenhuisen said his mission in the Democratic Alliance is complete, and that his main focus is now on dealing with the Foot and Mouth disease outbreak in his role as Minister of Agriculture.
Critics have claimed that some of the candidates positioning themselves to replace Steenhuisen are opposed to the coalition agreement.
Reports indicate that DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga and City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis have been cited as potential successors.
Meanwhile, former Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink has reportedly ruled himself out of the DA leadership race to focus on returning to office in the capital.
Hill-Lewis, who is widely seen as the frontrunner, has denied claims that he reached an agreement with Steenhuisen to allow the outgoing leader to remain as minister should the Cape Town mayor be elected.
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