Judge Steenhuizen on his work

Iserved as a fellow councillor with John Steenhuizen, pictured, in the eThekwini Metro Council for about 10 years until I retired in 2011. He was my colleague for about five years and my caucus leader for about four years. During this period I was able to observe and get to know him as a politician and a person.

I can therefore with a considerable measure of experience and knowledge comment in an informed manner on his character and competence as a public representative at a time when he is being hypocritically disparaged in certain political quarters for not having a university degree.

First, I wish to state that Steenhuizen is a politician and person of unimpeachable moral integrity and probity. He also has exceptional leadership qualities and throughout his political career has worked tirelessly as a public representative to serve his constituents.

He is politically well informed, well read and self-educated. He has, over the years, proved to be a formidable and robust debater in the metro council, the provincial legislature and the National Assembly (NA).

As chief whip for the Democratic Alliance in the NA he is, in my opinion, without peer. Steenhuizen is a patriotic South African who is committed to the values espoused in the country’s constitution.

He has worked tirelessly in an organisational capacity for the DA and in no small way has contributed to its exponential growth as a political party.

He is profoundly respected and admired for his exceptional qualities in the wider community and in civil society organisations.

It is essential that we judge Steenhuizen on the record of his excellent service. George Devenish, Durban