PRETORIA — President Cyril Ramaphosa is currently evaluating a proposed cabinet reshuffle submitted by the Democratic Alliance, which aims to restructure key portfolios within the Government of National Unity. The push for these changes is heavily driven by the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease crisis affecting the agriculture sector.
The Democratic Alliance’s federal leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis, formally tabled the recommendations to reorganize the party’s representatives in the coalition government. According to the blueprint, Willem Aucamp is slated to take over the Agriculture Ministry from John Steenhuisen. Steenhuisen would subsequently transition to the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition role, while David Maynier is earmarked to head the Forestry, Fisheries and Environment department.
Vincent Magwenya, the spokesperson for the Presidency, acknowledged the submission. He indicated that the President will review the suggested alterations and communicate his final decision at an appropriate time.
Providing context on the political maneuvering, Professor Susan Booysen, a political analyst, expressed that the development is hardly unexpected. She recalled that when Hill-Lewis assumed the party’s national leadership, there were firm guarantees that Steenhuisen would be retained in a prominent position even after relinquishing the top post. The current proposal effectively brings that political cycle to a close.
A major catalyst for this shift is the severe turmoil within the agriculture department regarding the foot-and-mouth outbreak. Booysen pointed to a recent judicial ruling—handed down late last month—that favored private stakeholders and mandated vaccinations. Furthermore, she noted that Steenhuisen has faced criticism for an inability to manage his departmental staff effectively, coupled with a string of highly embarrassing public missteps, suggesting he has struggled in the ministerial role. These performance issues pose a significant risk to the DA’s electoral prospects and its ability to demonstrate governance competence.
Echoing these concerns, Hill-Lewis stated that Aucamp’s primary objective, if appointed, would be to untangle the legal disputes surrounding the animal disease outbreak. His mandate would also involve collaborating comprehensively with the agricultural sector to implement swift, practical interventions that restore industry confidence and contain the crisis.
Although Steenhuisen has previously brushed off such criticisms and maintained that his performance was exemplary, his political standing has visibly diminished. Leading up to the party’s elective conference, internal tensions were high, notably his public disagreements with senior figure Helen Zille regarding the DA’s participation in the coalition government.
Booysen emphasized that a profound fracture in trust now exists between the minister, his department, and organized agricultural groups. She added that the strained relationship between Steenhuisen and Zille has persisted for an extended period. In a coalition setting, a leader without a robust internal support base or the backing of veteran party members lacks long-term viability. Consequently, Booysen described the shift to a deputy ministerial position as a “humiliating demotion,” speculating that Steenhuisen might only be accepting the role to maintain an income.
The analyst suggested that Hill-Lewis is likely acting preemptively. Because President Ramaphosa bears ultimate accountability for the coalition’s overall success, he possesses the authority to demand the removal of underperforming coalition ministers. By initiating the change himself, Hill-Lewis avoids having the decision forced upon him. This strategic move also helps the DA protect its vital farming voter base, which is increasingly being targeted by the FF Plus as local government elections approach.
Beyond the DA’s proposals, the President is also looking at filling other cabinet gaps. These include the vacancy created by the axing of Sisisi Tolashe, as well as the Police Ministry, where the substantive minister is currently on leave and a temporary appointee is managing affairs. While this opens the door for a broader executive reconfiguration, Booysen believes Ramaphosa will proceed deliberately. She noted that the President prefers to execute such changes on his own timeline to ensure they are not perceived as merely reacting to the DA’s internal restructuring.