Geordin Hill-Lewis's Cabinet reshuffle signals a bold new direction for the DA, elevating fresh faces while controversially demoting his predecessor, John Steenhuisen, amid political pressures.

New party leaders frequently alter inherited Cabinet lineups, but immediately demoting a predecessor is an unusual step.

In the months before Daily Maverick's Rebecca Davis revealed that the DA's Federal Council finance head, Dion George, had flagged the party's then leader, John Steenhuisen, for using a DA credit card for personal expenses, Geordin Hill-Lewis made it clear he would not contest for the position of DA leader against Steenhuisen.

The public perception was that they were friends, which sharpens the new DA leader's decision to move Steenhuisen from agriculture minister to deputy minister of trade, industry and competition.

Read more Foot and mouth disease bungle costs Steenhuisen his Cabinet post June 17, 2026 Hill-Lewis might have felt he had no choice.

The agricultural community is an important constituency for the DA, which faces fierce competition from the Freedom Front Plus for the rural farming vote. President Cyril Ramaphosa knew this when he offered Steenhuisen the post; it was a gift to the DA against its major political threat.

Also, the DA's main selling point to voters is good governance and administration, and the stream of complaints from farmers about Steenhuisen's management of the foot-and-mouth disease...