Hill-Lewis reshuffles DA ministers, moves Steenhuisen to deputy trade role

Geordin Hill-Lewis has announced a reshuffle of the Democratic Alliance’s representation in Cabinet, moving John Steenhuisen out of the agriculture portfolio and into a deputy role, and appointing a number of new ministers and deputy ministers.

What changed

According to IOL, Hill-Lewis replaced John Steenhuisen as Minister of Agriculture and has moved Steenhuisen to the role of deputy minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. The reshuffle also made the following appointments, according to IOL:

• Willie Aucamp will replace John Steenhuisen as Minister of Agriculture.
• David Maynier will become Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
• Alexandra Abrahams will move to deputy minister of Electricity and Energy.
• Yusuf Cassim will be appointed deputy minister of Higher Education and Training.
• Jack Bloom will be appointed deputy minister of Water and Sanitation.

Hill-Lewis’s stated purpose

According to IOL, Hill-Lewis said the changes came after a careful assessment of the DA’s team in the Government of National Unity and were intended to strengthen the party’s contribution to government. He was quoted saying:

“It is my judgement that the renewed team announced today will strengthen the DA’s contribution to government and give better effect to the mandate received from 3.5 million voters in the 2024 elections.”

According to IOL, Hill-Lewis also said DA representatives must

“unmistakably demonstrate the ‘DA difference’ in action.”

Analysts’ views

According to IOL, several political analysts interpreted the reshuffle as an assertion of Hill-Lewis’s leadership and a response to performance concerns.

Professor Dirk Kotzé told IOL that the new DA leadership likely wants to present its own team and that a review of ministers and deputy ministers was conducted under Ryan Coetzee. Kotzé said the message is that the DA will remove or reassign ministers who are not performing.

According to IOL, Professor André Duvenhage said Steenhuisen was replaced because he was “bad at his job” and described Aucamp as “a bit of a negotiator” who can build relationships with farming organisations. Duvenhage characterised Steenhuisen’s reassignment as “a bit of a lifeline for him.”

Professor Lesiba Teffo told IOL he regarded Steenhuisen as “misplaced” in the agriculture portfolio and said it is common for a new leader to assert authority when taking charge.

Next steps

According to IOL, the presidency was contacted for comment but had not replied.