John Steenhuisen at the DA’s federal congress on Saturday. (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)
Tears welled up in John Steenhuisen’s eyes on Saturday morning when he addressed the DA’s federal congress – with his wife and daughters in the audience – for the last time as the federal leader of the DA.
“My daughters are delighted that they will no longer see their father dancing on Instagram,” joked Steenhuisen.
Steenhuisen will step down as federal leader of the DA on Sunday when a new leader is elected at the congress.
“It was late in 2019 that the members of this wonderful organization first entrusted me with the responsibility of rebuilding the DA, a mandate that was renewed twice – in 2020 and 2023,” Steenhuisen said on Saturday morning.
John Steenhuisen at the DA’s federal congress on Saturday. (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)
“The party I inherited in 2019 was on its knees, at 16% in the polls, divided and torn by a crisis of confidence. The media confidently proclaimed the death of the DA. But together the people in this room refused to accept decline as our fate. Because, as I often said at the time, we believed that there was nothing wrong with the DA that could not be fixed by everything that was right about the DA.
“Having stabilized the party, we met in the exact same venue on 2 April 2023 when we embarked on a mission that changed the history of the DA and of South Africa. On that day, we collectively embarked on our Moonshot Pact to transform the DA into a party of national government.
“Just three years later, our presence in this hall today is living proof of the spectacular success of that mission.
“Not only is the blue machine stronger and healthier than ever before – and not only do we now regularly get almost 30% in opinion polls – but for the first time in the history of our party, the DA now governs together with the Republic of South Africa.
“This is what we promised the people of South Africa at our last congress, and this is exactly what we delivered.
John Steenhuisen at the DA’s federal congress on Saturday. (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)
“We are the generation that changed history. We took our Moonshot pact, and we achieved what was unthinkable for decades. For the very first time, the people of South Africa now have a real political alternative, because we have proven that the DA is not only ready to get a few municipalities and provinces to work, but that we are ready to get the whole of South Africa to work.
“Through our work in the government of national unity we have proven that the DA works for all the people of South Africa.
“My fellow South Africans, that a party that was once left to irrelevance and ridicule is now helping to shape the destiny of South Africa, is the legacy I leave behind for the Democratic Alliance.
“I hand over the leadership with immense pride and complete confidence. The DA is stronger, bigger, more relevant and more influential than at any point in its history.
“We are no longer a regional party or an eternal opposition. We are a national force for reform – a party in government that already makes South Africa work better. The road ahead will have challenges. It always has. But the foundations we have built together are solid. The values we defend are timeless.
John Steenhuisen (Photo: Christine Oelofse/Maroela Media)
“Thank you for the honor of leading this wonderful party. It has truly been the greatest privilege of my life.
“For anyone who may be wondering what I’m going to do next. Aside from working day and night until our foot and mouth disease has been dealt a blow, I’ll be doing what I’ve always done since I first joined the DA after high school. I’ll be next to all of you in this glorious blue machine, working in the trenches to support the next chapter of our storied history.
“I love my party. And I love my country. And I will continue to serve them both with all my heart and soul.”
Thank you for the honour of leading this great party. ???????????? #DAcongress2026 pic.twitter.com/1qavRgCWSg
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) April 11, 2026