“For the rest of this term of office, I will focus all my time and energy as Minister of Agriculture on defeating the most devastating foot-and-mouth disease outbreak our country has ever seen, and to pursue mass vaccination to ensure that this is the last mass outbreak of FMD our country ever sees.” This was John Steenhuisen’s promise on Wednesday when he announced that he will not seek re-election as leader of the DA.

By Alani Janeke, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

“After leading the DA into the GNU, my next chapter must be to eradicate this devastating disease from our shores once and for all.

“That is not a part-time job. It would not be fair to the incredible farmers of South Africa for me to split my time between battling the worst FMD outbreak ever on the one hand, while also running an internal campaign for the next three months and then leading a local government election campaign, on the other hand.” Steenhuisen told his colleagues and friends in the DA it has been the honour of a lifetime to lead the party to the top of the Union Building steps.

“And I want to thank every public representative, every staff member and every activist. For three elective congresses I placed my trust in you and you in me.”

According to Steenhuisen he has accomplished his “DA Moonshot mission” and his work in government now requires him to “similarly pour his heart and soul into defeating foot-and-mouth disease.”

He concluded his speech by saying he hands over the party reins in the knowledge that the DA is a fundamentally healthier party than the one he inherited.

Steenhuisen was leader of the DA for six years.