Questions are mounting over Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen’s ability to run a government department, after reports revealed he has a default judgment for nearly R150,000 in unpaid credit card debt.
Steenhuisen, who serves as Minister of Agriculture, is reportedly struggling with personal financial management despite earning a ministerial salary of over R2.6 million per year.
According to a Daily Maverick report, Steenhuisen had a default judgment granted against him in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court in May for unpaid personal credit card debt of nearly R150,000. It has also been alleged that the DA’s federal finance committee removed his party’s credit card earlier this year because the account could not be reconciled.
African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has taken a dig at Steenhuisen, saying all ministers must submit to lifestyle audits.
“John Steenhuisen has to explain himself in these lifestyle audits, like everybody. I saw that matter that he owes, I don’t know what he owes, credit card, lifestyle audits, he spends money carelessly. I’m not the one who’s saying that; that’s what’s been reported,” Mbalula said.
Independent political analyst Goodenough Mashego said that Steenhuisen’s reported financial problems raise national security concerns, particularly for a minister with access to top‑secret information.
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DA Leader John Steenhuisen: Financial Controversy
1. Debt & Default Judgment 🚨
Reports reveal Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and Minister of Agriculture, **John Steenhuisen**, has a
default judgment against him for unpaid personal credit card debt.
AMOUNT: Nearly R150,000
STATUS: Default judgment granted in Cape Town Magistrates’ Court in May.
2. Salary & Party Card Removal đź’ł
The Minister is reportedly struggling with personal financial management despite an annual
ministerial salary of **over R2.6 million**.
PARTY ACTION: It’s alleged the DA’s federal finance committee **removed his party’s credit card** earlier this year due to an inability to reconcile the account.
3. ANC Criticism & Lifestyle Audits 🗣️
African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General **Fikile Mbalula** called on Steenhuisen to **explain himself** as part of **lifestyle audits** for all ministers.
Mbalula suggested the Minister “spends money carelessly,” citing media reports.
4. National Security Concern đź”’
Political analyst **Goodenough Mashego** stated that a minister with financial problems, especially one with access to **top-secret information**, raises **national security issues**.
VULNERABILITY: Financial difficulties can make a minister **vulnerable** to lobbying, undue influence, or being “easily brought to disclose information.”
5. Call for Resignation 🛑
Mashego concluded that a minister with top-secret clearance and financial problems is **”actually a risk,”** suggesting the president should request that Steenhuisen **”excuse himself from the ministry.”**
“A minister having financial problems raises national security issues. When you are being vetted for security in determining what level of access you need to have to information, your credit record, your default judgment,” Mashego said.
“It comes into consideration. The belief here is that if you are having financial problems, you can easily be brought to disclose information that you should keep secret.”
Mashego added that ministers with financial difficulties could be vulnerable to lobbying or undue influence.
“You cannot be in that position when you are not clear when it comes to how you manage your finances because it becomes easy to be lobbied, it becomes easy to commit treason,” he said.
“Which means the challenge will be for the president to request that he excuse himself from the ministry. Because if you are a minister with a top-secret clearance and you have financial problems, you are actually a risk”
Politics
