Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

02 July 2026

3-minute read

The DA is facing “deepening divisions” within the party following John Steenhuisen’s exclusive interview on News24.

Steenhuisen mentioned feeling betrayed by the party’s new leader Geordin Hill-Lewis, highlighting his deal with Hill-Lewis that he would not contest the leader’s position but would be allowed to continue as Minister of Agriculture. Steenhuisen also implicated Tony Leon and others for putting pressure on DA members to meet with members of Leon’s company.

Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe says that because the DA is in coalition with the bigger main party ANC, it has been put in a “difficult position” and will have to “tread carefully” not to be seen to be getting closer to the ANC. Compounding the issue are the internal faction dynamics within the Democratic Alliance.

While “the job of a new leader is to make people feel that they belong,” the argument between Steenhuisen and Hill-Lewis indicates that the party’s “promise has been broken” and that they are no longer performing. DA representatives in government are concerned that they might be treated the same way as Steenhuisen.

However, Professor Seepe adds that people must understand that outcomes of elections do have consequences, and that the new leader may have been under pressure to “assert himself” and brand himself different to the previous one.

“In politics, perceptions are everything.” The professor notes former president Jacob Zuma’s visit to the Gupta’s as “politically unfortunate” pointing out that the Gupta’s are disliked in South Africa. Despite his links with them and loyalty to them, Zuma has not been able to see the damage they have caused to his reputation. The fact that the justice department has been attempting to get them back to account for their actions indicates that Zuma’s visit will lead to serious political ramifications. “It is not only about friendship, it’s also about judgement,” Professor Seepe emphasizes.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Professor Sipho Seepe.