South Africa’s Government of National Unity is seeing its first major political reshuffle from within the Democratic Alliance. Newly elected DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has moved swiftly to stamp his authority on the party’s national leadership team, requesting President Cyril Ramaphosa to remove former DA leader John Steenhuisen as Minister of Agriculture and replace him with current Deputy Minister Willie Aucamp. The move comes amid mounting criticism of Steenhuisen’s handling of the
foot-and-mouth disease crisis, which has seen the department locked in legal battles with farming and agricultural organisations. Hill-Lewis says the changes are aimed at strengthening the DA’s contribution to government and delivering on the mandate given to the party by millions of voters. But what does this reshuffle say about the DA’s priorities, and will new leadership in agriculture
help resolve one of the sector’s biggest crises?

South Africa&rsquo;s Government of National Unity is seeing its first&nbsp;major political reshuffle from within the Democratic Alliance.&nbsp;Newly elected DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has moved swiftly to&nbsp;stamp his authority on the party&rsquo;s national leadership team,&nbsp;requesting President Cyril Ramaphosa to remove former DA&nbsp;leader John Steenhuisen as Minister of Agriculture and replace&nbsp;him with current Deputy Minister Willie Aucamp. The move comes&nbsp;amid mounting criticism of Steenhuisen&rsquo;s handling of the foot-and-mouth disease crisis, which has seen the department locked in legal battles with farming and agricultural organisations.&nbsp;Hill-Lewis says the changes are aimed at strengthening the DA&rsquo;s&nbsp;contribution to government and delivering on the mandate given&nbsp;to the party by millions of voters. But what does this reshuffle say&nbsp;about the DA&rsquo;s priorities, and will new leadership in agriculture help resolve one of the sector&rsquo;s biggest crises?

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope