Former DA Chief Whip Steenhuisen Talks Of Being ‘Lobbied’ To Succeed Maimane

Riyaz Patel

The Democratic Alliance says its working to fill the federal leadership vacancies as a matter of urgency, while announcing its Interim Parliamentary Leader and Interim Chief Whip.

The party, still reeling from the resignations of leader Mmusi Maimane and federal chair Athol Trollip, along with Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba, said it’ll convene another federal council meeting as soon as possible to elect interim leaders who will replace Maimane and Trollip

It has also emerged that the former Chief Whip of the DA’s Parliamentary Caucus, John Steenhuisen, whose term ended with Maimane’s resignation, said he’s been lobbied to take over as party leader.

Steenhuisen told radio host Eusebius McKaiser on Radio702 Thursday that he had been approached by several DA members to run for party leader, but wanted “the bodies to cool” first while he “gives it consideration.”