John Steenhuisen

The Honourable
John Henry Steenhuisen
MP
Chief Whip of the Opposition
Assumed office
26 May 2014
Leader Mmusi Maimane
Preceded by Watty Watson
Member of the National Assembly
Assumed office
19 July 2011
Preceded by Mark Steele
Leader of the Opposition of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature
In office
23 April 2009 – 24 October 2010
Preceded by Roger Burrows
Succeeded by Sizwe Mchunu
Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature
In office
22 April 2009 – 19 July 2011
Succeeded by Mark Steele
Personal details
Born (1976-03-25) 25 March 1976
Durban, Natal, South Africa
Political party Democratic Alliance
Spouse(s)
Julie Steenhuisen (née Wright)
(m. 2000; div. 2010)
Children 2 daughters

John Henry Steenhuisen (born 25 March 1976) is a South African politician currently serving as Chief Whip of the Opposition as a Member of the National Assembly representing the Democratic Alliance under the leadership of Mmusi Maimane. He also previously served as Leader of the Opposition in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature.[1]

Personal life

Steenhuisen was born in Durban and attended Northwood Boys High School, an English-medium secondary school located in Durban, from 1989 until his graduation in 1993.[2] He currently resides in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal and is a supporter of the Sharks rugby union team and AmaZulu F.C. football club.

Steenhuisen was married for 10 years to Julie Steenhuisen (née Wright), a fellow Durban native, before announcing their divorce in October 2010 amid public revelations of his ongoing affair with Terry Kass Beaumont, the DA's provincial spokesperson and wife of Michael Beaumont, the DA's provincial director.[3] Steenhuisen has two daughters from his marriage with Julie.[4]

Steenhuisen is fluent in both English and Afrikaans.

Political career

Steenhuisen was elected to the then Durban City Council in 1999 at the age of 22, making him one of the youngest councillors in the city's history. In 2006 he was elected the caucus leader of the Democratic Alliance's official opposition as a member of the eThekwini Municipal Council and served on its Executive Council.

He represented Durban North in the eThekwini Municipal Council, and its predecessor Durban City Council, for 10 years until being elected to the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature in the 2009 South African general election. He was subsequently elected provincial leader of the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal during the party's 2009 Provincial Congress, a position he held until announcing his resignation from provincial leadership on 18 October 2010 amid revelations of marital infidelity. Steenhuisen's resignation as provincial leader became effective on 24 October 2010 although he continued to serve as an MPL and DA caucus leader until his move to the National Assembly in July 2011.[5][6]

Steenhuisen joined the National Assembly in July 2011 by replacing Mark Steele, a Democratic Alliance MP who, in turn, assumed Steenhuisen's role in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature. Steenhuisen currently serves as the Democratic Alliance's leader for the iLembe constituency area and is a member of the Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament.[7] He also previously served as the Democratic Alliance's Shadow Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.[8][9]

Steenhuisen is known for his oratory skills and has delivered a number of speeches to Parliament that have been noted for their wit and incisive criticism of African National Congress leadership, including previous South African President Jacob Zuma.[10][11]

References

  1. ↑ "DA Caucus KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature: John Steenhuisen". Democratic Alliance. Archived from the original on 20 October 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  2. ↑ "John Steenhuisen LinkedIn Profile". LinkedIn. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  3. ↑ "DA leader quits over sex scandal". News24. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "Mr Clean under fire". Independent Online. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  5. ↑ "Changes in KZN DA leadership". News24. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  6. ↑ "DA caucus leader moves to Cape". The Mercury. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  7. ↑ "Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament". Parliament of the Republic of South Africa. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  8. ↑ "John Steenhuisen Profile". Who's Who Southern Africa. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  9. ↑ "John Henry Steenhuisen Politician Profile". The People's Assembly. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  10. ↑ "'Where is Zuma?': DA chief whip John Steenhuisen doesn't hold back in Parliament speech". News24. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  11. ↑ "'Prison uniform should be Zuma's exit package' - Steenhuisen". News24. Retrieved 4 October 2017.

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