Democratic Alliance leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has removed former party leader John Steenhuisen from one of the party’s most prominent Cabinet positions, announcing a sweeping reshuffle of the DA’s Government of National Unity (GNU) team that will see Forestry Minister Willie Aucamp take over the Agriculture portfolio.

The changes, announced on Wednesday, mark the first major reconfiguration of the DA’s representation in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet since the formation of the GNU following the 2024 general election.

In a letter to Ramaphosa, Hill-Lewis said the changes followed a “careful assessment” of the DA’s performance in government and were aimed at strengthening the party’s contribution to the coalition administration.

The most notable move is Steenhuisen’s removal as Minister of Agriculture, a position he assumed after the DA joined the GNU. He will now serve as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.

Steenhuisen’s replacement, Willie Aucamp, has been tasked with tackling the country’s ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis, including resolving legal disputes related to the outbreak and restoring confidence in the agricultural sector.

Hill-Lewis praised Steenhuisen’s tenure, saying he had expanded market access for South African agricultural products and made progress in the procurement and distribution of vaccines to combat FMD.

However, the decision effectively amounts to a demotion for Steenhuisen, who moves from a Cabinet-level position to a deputy ministerial role.

The announcement comes less than a year after Hill-Lewis succeeded Steenhuisen as DA leader, signalling a further consolidation of authority by the Cape Town mayor at the helm of the country’s second-largest political party.

Steenhuisen, one of the DA’s most recognisable political figures, has led the party through some of its most turbulent years. He became interim leader in 2019 following the resignation of Mmusi Maimane and was later elected leader in his own right in 2020.

A former Durban city councillor and chief whip of the opposition in Parliament, Steenhuisen built his political reputation as an aggressive parliamentary debater and vocal critic of ANC governance.

Under his leadership, the DA campaigned heavily against corruption, state capture and economic stagnation. He also played a central role in negotiations that ultimately led to the DA’s participation in the GNU after the ANC lost its outright parliamentary majority in the 2024 elections.

Yet his leadership was not without controversy.

Critics within and outside the party accused him of failing to broaden the DA’s electoral appeal and questioned whether the party had made sufficient gains under his stewardship. The DA’s internal debates over transformation, coalition politics and strategy often played out publicly during his tenure.

His move from Agriculture to a deputy ministerial role is therefore likely to fuel speculation about shifting power dynamics within the party and whether Hill-Lewis is seeking to place his own stamp on the GNU administration.

Other changes announced by Hill-Lewis include the appointment of Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Former deputy minister Alexandra Abrahams moves to the Electricity and Energy portfolio, while Yusuf Cassim becomes Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training.

Veteran Gauteng legislator Jack Bloom has been appointed Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation.

Hill-Lewis framed the changes as evidence of the DA’s commitment to accountability and performance in government.

“These changes demonstrate Democratic Alliance values in action. We believe in accountability in public office, high standards of performance and responsiveness to the needs of South Africans,” he said.

The reshuffle now awaits Ramaphosa’s approval and implementation. If accepted, it will represent the most significant adjustment to the DA’s Cabinet contingent since the GNU was established, while raising fresh questions about Steenhuisen’s future influence within a party he led for more than six years.