Deputy Minister John Henry Steenhuisen

Deputy Minister, John Steenhuisen, born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal, where he attended Northwood Boys High School, is a proud supporter of the AmaZulu football club.

Elected to the Durban City Council in 1999 where he served as a councillor for Durban North. In 2006 he was elected as Caucus Leader in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality for the Democratic Alliance.

After the 2009 elections he was then elected as Caucus Leader and soon after elected as the DA’s KZN Provincial Leader.

Becoming a Member of Parliament in 2011, his political career took off and he became the Chief Whip of the DA, South Africa’s official opposition party.

In late 2019, he then became the Leader of the DA and South Africa’s official opposition party.

Fast forward to 2024, he led his party, for the first time in its history into national government. Forming the Government of National Unity in a watershed and historic election. Shortly after becoming the Minister of Agriculture where he pioneered agricultural export deals.

Today, he is the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition where his valuable experience with trade is welcomed.