Democratic Alliance leader and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen is facing questions about his financial management after a court issued a default judgment against him for nearly R150,000 in unpaid credit card debt. The judgment was granted in May 2025 after he failed to settle the amount with First National Bank.
Steenhuisen has since paid the debt and stated the matter is a private financial issue from before his ministerial appointment, with no connection to corruption. He earns over R2.6 million annually as a minister.
The incident has prompted calls for lifestyle audits for all ministers, with critics raising concerns about the financial oversight of public officials. Some security analysts noted that significant personal debt could pose potential security risks for officials with access to classified information.
Additionally, reports indicate the DA’s federal finance committee revoked Steenhuisen’s party credit card earlier this year due to accounting reconciliation issues, though Steenhuisen claims he voluntarily surrendered the card due to administrative burden.
The DA has maintained support for Steenhuisen, who continues to lead the Agriculture Ministry during a period of significant challenges for South Africa’s farming sector.