The DA wants John Steenhuisen to be removed as agriculture minster and demoted to the deputy minster of trade and industry
The timing of the humiliating demotion of former DA leader John Steenhuisen to a deputy ministerial post suggests serious concern from the DA leadership about his ministerial performance and the mounting criticism from farmers over his handling of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
This is according to political analysts as the sweeping reshuffle, which DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis formally requested from President Cyril Ramaphosa, would see Steenhuisen removed as Minister of Agriculture and replaced by Willie Aucamp, and reassigned to the position of Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.
The changes come just months after Hill-Lewis succeeded Steenhuisen as DA leader and amid mounting criticism of the former leader's handling of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, which has strained relations with sections of the agricultural sector.
Hill-Lewis announced on Wednesday that he had written to Ramaphosa requesting the changes, which would also elevate Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier to Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and bring several provincial leaders into national government.
