Former DA leader John Steenhuisen told News24’s Adriaan Basson in an explosive interview published on Saturday 28 June 2026 that DA Federal Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis gave his head to the hyenas by failing to defend him when it mattered most. Image:Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers
Former DA leader John Steenhuisen has broken his silence about his removal from the Democratic Alliance. The Steenhuisen DA bombshell interview was published by News24 on Saturday 28 June 2026. Furthermore, Steenhuisen alleged that DA Federal Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis gave his head to the hyenas by failing to defend him when it mattered most. As a result, the most explosive political interview of 2026 has shaken the DA ahead of the November local government elections.
Steenhuisen DA Bombshell Interview: What He Said About Hill-Lewis
Steenhuisen spoke to News24 editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson about his removal from the DA leadership. He said Hill-Lewis gave his head to the hyenas rather than defend him when pressure mounted. Furthermore, Steenhuisen alleged that Hill-Lewis played an active role in the manoeuvring that ended his leadership. As a result, Hill-Lewis now faces serious questions at a moment when the DA cannot afford internal conflict.
Steenhuisen also named former DA leader Tony Leon as someone who lobbied against him. He described a group he called the AfriMAGA mob as central to the campaign against his leadership. Furthermore, he alleged that internal lobbying and behind-the-scenes pressure from multiple directions made his position impossible to hold. As a result, his account reveals a party far more divided beneath the surface than it appeared during the 2024 general election.
Betrayal by Those He Trusted
Personal betrayal runs through the entire interview. Steenhuisen said senior figures who publicly backed him failed to defend him when internal criticism peaked. Furthermore, he described being handed to his critics by people he had worked alongside and trusted for years. His account is the most candid he has given about what happened inside the DA during one of its most turbulent periods.
The timing makes the interview even more significant. Liam Jacobs recently returned to the DA from the Patriotic Alliance. The DA is preparing for the 4 November 2026 local government elections. Furthermore, Hill-Lewis is now the DA’s Federal Leader and most prominent public face. As a result, Steenhuisen’s allegations land at the worst possible moment for a party trying to project unity heading into a crucial election.
What the DA Said About the Steenhuisen DA Bombshell
The DA said changes within the party were made to strengthen the organisation and prepare for future political challenges. Hill-Lewis gave his own interview to News24 on the same day. He addressed his role in the events leading to Steenhuisen’s departure. Furthermore, he spoke about the ANC, his own growth as a leader and the DA’s plans for November 2026. As a result, both sides of the story are now public and South Africans can weigh the competing accounts directly.
The Broader Context
Steenhuisen led the DA through one of its strongest electoral performances in recent years. The party secured a solid result in the 2024 general election and joined President Ramaphosa’s Government of National Unity. However, his removal sparked a significant internal debate about the party’s direction and the influence of various factions within the DA.
His reference to the AfriMAGA mob points to tensions within the DA over its relationship with AfriForum and the broader Afrikaner nationalist political space. Furthermore, naming Tony Leon suggests that the party’s old guard played a more active role in shaping his departure than anyone publicly admitted at the time. As a result, the interview raises sharp questions the DA must answer before November 2026.
Mzansi Today Live will continue to follow the fallout from this interview as the DA responds.
For more on South African political developments visit da.org.za.
Editors Note All information in this article is based on John Steenhuisen’s interview with News24 published on 28 June 2026 and the accompanying interview with Geordin Hill-Lewis on the same platform. All allegations made by Steenhuisen are his personal account and have not been independently verified. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.