John Steenhuisen's Request For Deviations In Hiring Sparks Controversy

Holifil

02 Apr, 2025

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen recently sought an exception to the minimum hiring requirements.
Steenhuisen aimed to appoint four individuals to his ministerial office despite their lack of qualifications for the roles.
South Africans are once again accusing Steenhuisen of hypocrisy for attempting to engage in cadre deployment practices.

John Steenhuisen faced backlash after his request to deviate from minimum hiring standards was denied. Critics accuse him of engaging in cadre deployment. Image: Waldo Swiegers. Source: Getty Images

Listen up, folks. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen just got a big "no" from the government when it came to his request to hire four individuals who don’t meet the basic qualifications for their intended roles. This move has sparked a heated debate in South Africa, with many accusing Steenhuisen of hypocrisy. The Democratic Alliance leader asked for an exception to the standard hiring rules, but the Minister of Public Service and Administration wasn’t having it and swiftly rejected his proposal.

Let me break it down for you. Steenhuisen wanted to bring on former DA MP Annette Steyn, his personal assistant Una Christians, spokesperson Charity McCord, and another individual named Mr. Kruger. But here’s the catch—they don’t have the qualifications needed for these important positions. Sounds a little fishy, doesn’t it?

Other Ministers Join the Fray

But guess what? Steenhuisen wasn’t the only one trying to bend the rules. Ministers from other departments also made similar requests. Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina and Minerals and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe also sought deviations for their own appointments. Majodina wanted to hire one unqualified official, while Mantashe was looking to bring in two. It seems like this issue isn’t isolated to just one party or minister—it’s a broader challenge within the system.

Read also:
Why Food Prices In South Africa Remain High Despite Positive Economic Indicators

Public Reaction: Calling Out Hypocrisy

The public response was swift and sharp. Many South Africans were thrilled to see Steenhuisen’s request denied, pointing out that they’ve grown weary of politicians giving jobs to their friends regardless of qualifications. This "jobs for pals" mentality has been a sore spot for citizens for years, and they weren’t shy about expressing their frustration.

One commenter, Malungisa Barnati, summed up the sentiment perfectly: “Imagine being so vocal about cadre deployment, but deep down, you want it with all your heart.” Another user, @88sips, added, “So they basically stopped John Steenhuisen from doing exactly what he criticized others for. Well done. John needs to find people with the right qualifications instead of handing out positions to his buddies like he did with the chief of staff role.”

Others chimed in with their thoughts. @leb013gp simply stated, “Jobs for pals.” Meanwhile, @FedixM quipped, “That’s what you get for giving a matriculant a Ministry of Agriculture.” And @Bantu_Istan weighed in with, “The DA is the most hypocritical party ever. The noise they made about similar appointments before. Look at them now.”

Mbulazi Mntungwa offered a more philosophical take, saying, “Show me an honest politician, and I will show you a living dinosaur. The very same DA that was fighting against cadre deployment policy is applying it now, trying to appoint its members to key positions.”

Lastly, Mtobi Nash remarked, “Cadre deployment on steroids... Isn’t he the one who took the ANC to court for employing unqualified cadres?”

SA Accuses DA of Engaging in Cadre Deployment

This isn’t the first time South Africans have accused the Democratic Alliance of engaging in cadre deployment. Previously, Briefly News covered how citizens were calling out the party for attempting to sidestep the minimum requirements for appointments. When Steenhuisen tried to lower the bar for hiring standards, Mzansi wasn’t having it. They pointed out that Steenhuisen wanted to appoint four individuals to his office who simply didn’t have the necessary qualifications for the jobs. This move has only fueled further criticism and accusations of hypocrisy against the DA.