South Africa's Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, John Steenhuisen, has declared that he will not seek re-election in April, a move that could jeopardize the stability of the coalition government. The DA, which is South Africa's second-largest political party, entered into a coalition with its traditional rival, the African National Congress (ANC), after the latter lost its parliamentary majority in 2024. Steenhuisen, who has served as the leader of the pro-business DA since 2019 and currently holds the position of agriculture minister in President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration, was widely expected to run for another term. However, reports suggest he was compelled to abandon his campaign due to a series of controversies, including fallout with a senior party member and alleged misuse of party resources, of which he was cleared earlier this year. In a recent press conference, Steenhuisen emphasized his intention to focus on addressing a major foot-and-mouth disease outbreak affecting the country’s livestock. Under his leadership, the DA managed to forge an unprecedented alliance with the ANC, which is significant given the ANC's historical role in transitioning South Africa to democracy in 1994. Their partnership has faced challenges, but has also managed to demonstrate collaborative efforts, including during a tense interaction with former US President Donald Trump. As Steenhuisen plans to step down, the DA is left to consider future leadership, with no candidates officially announcing their intentions yet.