DA Leader John Steenhuisen Faces Scrutiny After R150,000 Credit Card Default Judgment

Questions mount over financial management, ministerial responsibility, and national security risks.

Cape Town, 20 November 2025, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen is under fire following reports that a default judgment was granted against him for nearly R150,000 in unpaid personal credit card debt. The revelation has sparked debate over the minister’s financial responsibility, accountability, and suitability to manage a national department.

Despite earning a ministerial salary of over R2.6 million per year, Steenhuisen reportedly struggled to keep up with personal debt obligations. According to the Daily Maverick, the judgment was handed down in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court in May 2025. Compounding the issue, it is alleged that earlier this year the DA’s federal finance committee removed his party credit card after the account could not be reconciled.

Political Fallout: ANC Calls for Accountability

The financial controversy has quickly become fodder for political opponents. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula weighed in, stressing that all ministers are subject to lifestyle audits and must answer for financial discrepancies.

“John Steenhuisen has to explain himself in these lifestyle audits, like everybody,” Mbalula said, referencing media reports that suggest careless spending habits.

Social media has been equally unrelenting, with citizens and opposition supporters questioning how a minister responsible for critical national programs could appear unable to manage his personal finances. One Twitter user commented: “How can a minister manage our farms and food security if he can’t manage his own bank account?”

National Security Concerns

Beyond optics, some analysts are raising alarms about national security risks. Political analyst Goodenough Mashego highlighted that ministers with financial vulnerabilities, particularly those with top-secret clearance could be susceptible to lobbying, undue influence, or coercion.

“When you are being vetted for security clearance, your financial history matters,” Mashego explained. “A minister with debt and default judgments could be easily pressured to disclose information that should remain confidential.”

Mashego went further, suggesting that President Ramaphosa may need to consider whether Steenhuisen should step aside from the ministry until the matter is resolved.

Public and Party Reaction

Within the DA, reactions appear muted. Reports of the party credit card removal suggest internal acknowledgment of financial mismanagement, but no public statements have been issued by Steenhuisen’s office to address the judgment. IOL reports that requests for comment went unanswered.

Meanwhile, social media has been a mix of outrage and incredulity. One commenter posted: “R2.6 million a year and you can’t pay a credit card? Minister, what are you teaching the nation?” Others, however, caution against conflating personal finance struggles with ministerial competence, though the national security angle complicates that argument.

A Leadership Question

The controversy raises broader questions about financial transparency and ministerial accountability in South Africa. If ministers responsible for public resources cannot demonstrate sound financial management in their own lives, critics argue, how can the public trust them with state budgets, sensitive information, or strategic programs?

As of now, Steenhuisen has not publicly addressed the default judgment, and the DA has remained largely silent. Analysts predict that the story will continue to unfold, particularly if the matter is raised in parliamentary committees or during lifestyle audits mandated for ministers.

For now, the spotlight is firmly on Steenhuisen, with many South Africans waiting to see if the DA leader will acknowledge the judgment and clarify his financial standing or risk a growing credibility gap both politically and nationally.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Debt & Default Judgment: Nearly R150,000; Cape Town Magistrates’ Court, May 2025.

• Ministerial Salary: Over R2.6 million per year.

• DA Party Card: Allegedly removed earlier in 2025 due to reconciliation issues.

• Political Criticism: ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula calls for accountability via lifestyle audits.

• Security Risks: Analysts warn ministers with financial vulnerability may be exposed to lobbying or undue influence.

{Source: IOL}

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