John Steenhuisen: What his DA leadership victory really means

John Steenhuisen has cruised to victory in the race to become the DA’s interim leader. The former chief whip of the party ousted Makashule Gana for the position on Sunday, and Steenhuisen will be tasked with steadying the ship as the DA look to rebuild after a disastrous 2019.

John Steenhuisen has been elected the interim leader of the Democratic Alliance.

Ivan Meyer is the federal chair.

— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) November 17, 2019

How John Steenhuisen became DA leader

High-profile in-fighting and a poor performance in the general election meant that the buck ultimately stopped with Mmusi Maimane. Helen Zille’s chums from the Institute of Race Relations had been campaigning for his removal, which was accelerated by a damning report compiled by senior party figures.

Former leader Tony Leon stuck the boot in, making Maimane’s party untenable. Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba and ex-DA mainstay Athol Trollip both quit the party alongside the 39-year-old.

But with John Steenhuisen stepping into Maimane’s shoes, what does the future hold for the new guy?

John Steenhuisen as interim DA leader – what you need to know:

How long is he in the role for?

So it’s important to note that Steenhuisen *technically* isn’t the permanent leader of the party. His victory on Sunday only guarantees him the top job until April 2020. That’s the minimum amount of time he will fill the void, but make no mistake, the Durbanite has his eyes on the prize for the long-term.

Will John Steenhuisen lead the DA for the 2021 Municipal Elections?

If he’s still there after next April, the answer is yes. The DA will convene for their Federal Congress in five months’ time, and appointing a full-time leader will be item number one on the agenda. Steenhuisen must defeat any other challenges towards his leadership before he can properly get his feet under the table. A stable performance in the metros could guarantee him pole position until the 2024 General Election.

How strong is his mandate?

Steenhuisen won by a landslide, claiming 97 votes against the 33 cast for Gana. The comprehensive nature of the victory will give Steenhuisen a sturdy platform going forward, and any potential bones of contention raised by a tight outcome at the ballot has been eliminated.

What other roles does he hold in the DA?

Although he can’t escape the “interim” tag for now, Steenhuisen was also appointed the party’s Parliamentary leader in October. He’s got a few barnstorming speeches up his sleeve, and but he’ll need more than a few cutting put-downs to navigate the choppy waters up ahead…

Problems and issues he’ll have to deal with

The DA have an image problem, and in turn, that’ll reflect on John Steenhuisen. The opposition have been criticised for their racial representation, and swapping a black leader for a white one has already proved to be a turn-off for some South Africans. Steenhuisen has the unenviable task of convincing the electorate that the DA genuinely do stand for transformation and the empowerment of the working classes.

Furthermore, he’s still getting it in the neck for his lack of qualifications. Without a university degree, the interim leader has been chastised by his “more educated” opponents in Parliament. However, John Steenhuisen can point to 20 years of public service as his major at “the university of life”.

What John Steenhuisen has said about his new role

“I will shoot straight. I will not have different conversations with different people. My views will be consistent, and you will always know where you stand. My door will be open to you at all times. And you should always call me by my first name, John. We are colleagues and we are public servants. We are not a party of leader worship and deferential titles.”

“DA governments must be compassionate. They must care deeply for the communities they serve, and this compassion must always reflect in how we deliver. The “DA difference” can’t just be a slogan – there has to be a clear difference in the lived experience where we govern. This has to be so obvious and so consistent that people cannot help but talk about it.”

“Call me John” Steenhuisen