John Steenhuisen

The Honourable John Steenhuisen MP
Chief Whip of the Official Opposition
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 May 2014
Preceded by	Watty Watson
Member of the National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office November 2010
Leader	Helen Zille
Leader of the Opposition in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature
In office 23 April 2009 – October 2010
Preceded by	Roger Burrows
Succeeded by	Sizwe Mchunu
Member of Provincial Legislature in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature
In office 22 April 2009 – November 2010
Personal details
Born	25 March 1976 Durban, Natal Province, South Africa
Political party	Democratic Alliance

John Steenhuisen (born 25 March 1976) is a South African politician, and the Chief Whip of the Official Opposition Democratic Alliance in the National Assembly. He was previously the Leader of the Opposition^[1] in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature, on behalf of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and its leader, Mmusi Maimane. He was elected leader of the DA in KwaZulu-Natal during the 2009 Provincial Congress. He tendered his resignation on 18 October 2010, effective from 24 October. His deputy, Sizwe Mchunu, is his successor.^[2]

Background

Steenhuisen was born in the city of Durban and he attended Northwood School.

Career in politics

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 history of the City. In 2006 he was elected the caucus leader of the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance, on the eThekwini council and served on the City’s Executive Committee.

He represented Durban North for 10 years until the 2009 General Election where he was elected leader of the DA caucus in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature.

References

1. "DA Caucus KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature: John Steenhuisen". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
2. http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Changes-in-KZN-DA-leadership-20101019