John Steenhuisen, South African Party Leader, to Step Down

Nytimes reports that John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance, said he will not seek re-election, a decision that casts uncertainty over the direction of the country’s fragile governing coalition. He is finishing his second term as party leader and serves as agriculture minister in the coalition government with the African National Congress.

Mr. Steenhuisen has recently faced criticism over allegations that he misspent party funds on Uber Eats deliveries and other personal expenses and that he mishandled an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease affecting the livestock industry. An internal party investigation cleared him of wrongdoing in the credit card expenditures, but he remains under inquiry over allegations he brought the party into disrepute; he said he would focus full-time on battling the outbreak.

He was an ardent supporter of keeping the governing coalition together even as the Democratic Alliance and the A.N.C. clashed over policy, including national health insurance and land seizures.

South Africa