Leader of South Africa's second biggest party wants his predecessor sacked as minister

John Steenhuisen is one of South Africa's best-known politicians after leading the DA for seven years. John Steenhuisen: Geordin Hill-Lewis wants former DA leader sacked from South African cabinet Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Former DA leader John Steenhuisen has been removed from his post Leader of South Africa's second biggest party wants his predecessor sacked as minister John Steenhuisen (left) used to be a close ally of Geordin Hill-Lewis (right) John Steenhuisen is seen laughing with his successor Geordin Hill-Lewis at an event The leader of the second biggest party in South Africa's governing coalition has asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to sack his predecessor, one of the country's best-known politicians. Geordin Hill-Lewis wants the long-time leader of the Democratic Alliance's (DA), John Steenhuisen, replaced as agriculture minister as he proposed sweeping changes to the party's representation within the government. Hill-Lewis took over the reins from Steenhuisen in April. The DA has six posts in Ramaphosa's cabinet, while several members serve as deputy ministers, after no party secured a parliamentary majority in the 2024 general elections. Ramaphosa is yet to comment on the request but he is unlikely to reject it. Hill-Lewis did not say why he wants this change, but it is widely believed to relate to Steenhuisen's handling of the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in South Africa, which devastated the country's livestock industry. Hill-Lewis did not say why he wants this change, but it is widely believed to relate to Steenhuisen's handling of the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in South Africa, which devastated the country's livestock industry He has faced intense criticism from farmers over his failure to do more to contain the outbreak. In a statement, Hill-Lewis said he wanted Willie Aucamp to become agriculture minister with an "immediate mandate... to resolve on-going legal proceedings relating" to the outbreak. Steenhuisen also faced a financial scandal, which contributed to his decision not to stand for re-election as party leader. He has been nominated as deputy minister for trade and industry - a major demotion. Other proposed changes Hill-Lewis announced are: David Maynier as environment minister, replacing Aucamp Alexandra Abrahams, who served in Steenhuisen's new post, as deputy electricity and energy minister Yusuf Cassim as the deputy minister of higher education and training post Jack Bloom as the deputy minister of water and sanitation. DA leader John Steenhuisen is seen looking ahead during an event How the tide turned against the leader of South Africa's second-biggest party A head-and-shoulders image of Cyril Ramaphosa. He is wearing a dark suit and the white collar of his shirt can just be seen. Some flags are out of focus in the background. The cash-in-the-sofa saga that just won't go away for South Africa's president Esnat Joseph, wearing a maroon woollen bobble hat and black jacket, sitting in front of a tent with her baby triplets - two dressed in yellow hoodies and one black. 'We fear for our lives' - deadline for migrants to leave South Africa looms A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Health facilities have come under attack during the current outbreak as a result of misinformation and fear. Protesters have set 30 June as the date for all undocumented migrants to leave the country. The vice-president says the government had barely reached 10% of its targets, without specifying them. Ibrahim helped define a genre of South African jazz music in a career that spanned eight decades. Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye is accused of trapping a taxi driver in a car and firing a gun in the man's direction. Former captain Dean Furman says South Africa were "miles off it" in their World Cup opener against Mexico, as many on the continent 'hate-watch' Bafana Bafana. The taunting reflects anger from parts of the continent over reports of xenophobia in South Africa. Three players were sent off in the World Cup opener as Mexico beat South Africa 2-0. Are we about to see a World Cup littered with red cards?