John Steenhuisen land expropriation

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 14: Democratic Alliance Chief Whip John Steenhuisen speaks during the 2017 State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate at the National Assembly on February 14, 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa. Political parties debated Jacob Zuma’s SONA which was marred by chaos, violence and insults. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Jaco Marais)

Here’s Johnny! The 10 best John Steenhuisen quotes from Parliament

The DA’s Chief Whip John Steenhuisen has gained quite the reputation for his fiery Parliamentary speeches. In fact, the ‘ANC Slayer’ has hit the nail on the head every time he’s addressed the house. When Johnny Boy hits top form, he makes Maimane look tame. Hell, he even makes Julius Malema seems positively meek. In […]

John Steenhuisen land expropriation

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 14: Democratic Alliance Chief Whip John Steenhuisen speaks during the 2017 State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate at the National Assembly on February 14, 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa. Political parties debated Jacob Zuma’s SONA which was marred by chaos, violence and insults. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Jaco Marais)

The DA’s Chief Whip John Steenhuisen has gained quite the reputation for his fiery Parliamentary speeches. In fact, the ‘ANC Slayer’ has hit the nail on the head every time he’s addressed the house.

When Johnny Boy hits top form, he makes Maimane look tame. Hell, he even makes Julius Malema seems positively meek. In top gear, Steenhuisen is an absolute pleasure to watch… if you aren’t team Zuma, that is.

The DA MP defines the word ‘opposition’ – through sheer bluster and incisive social commentary, he knocks the JZ administration down a peg every time he speaks. So let’s revel in some of his finest hours:

Best John Steenhuisen Quotes – Top 10

1 . Let’s get this out there straight away. Nobody does wordplay quite like John Steenhuisen does:

“Zuma talked a lot about iron and steel markets today. Well let me tell you something, he likes to iron over our problems, and steal all our money.”

2. In fact, we are convinced he saves his most cutting remarks for the President.

“To us, the best exit package for Zuma is ensuring that he wears the orange uniform in prison [rather] than taking money when he has taken so much already.”

3. Cyril Ramaphosa, you are anything but safe from John’s acidic tongue.

“Cyril watched and remained silent. He bottled every opportunity to stand up to state capture and actually do something decisive. Never missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity, he voted slavishly every time to keep Zuma despite the brutal judgements of the Constitutional Court. The last thing it needs is more weak and vacillating leadership and fair-weather principles that have become the hallmarks of the Ramaphosa brand.”

4. Steenhuisen knows his way around a brilliant bus analogy…

It’s grotesque that Zuma could have an increase in salary. The truth is, the President of SA drove over us all with a bus. Last December, he put that bus in reverse and backed over all of us. He then crashes that bus, then comes to the taxpayer – with his cap in hand – asking for a raise. We say no.

5. No really. John absolutely kills Jacob Zuma when he throws a bus into the equation:

“Now I understand why they built the buses that are too big for the BRT lanes in Nelson Mandela Bay. This is to ensure that Zuma had something big enough to throw people under.”

Knee-pads, buses and philosophy: John Steenhuisen at his best

6. Derek Hanekom gets his arse handed to him…

“Isn’t it a shame, Minister Hanekom, that you could stand up to apartheid – but you can’t stand up to Jacob Zuma? Now all you do is force people to apply for visas, to come and visit Planet Zuma.”

7. It’s not all insults and shade-throwing. The DA man also dabbles with philosophy when it comes to dismantling the ANC.

“The ANC has lost all credibility. And I’ll leave with the words of Dante, who said that “the darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain neutrality in times of moral crisis” – shame on you all.”

8. He says what we’ve all been thinking about the mixed messages on state capture we’re getting from the ANC.

“What’s the point in having a policy on corruption if it isn’t applied? Not one person has been charged for state capture. Where is the accountability? It’s no use having a schizophrenic approach; you’re so divided, it’s hard to know what side of the debate ANC are on.”

9. People who are good with words tend to create the most brutal imagery:

“This house has been castrated in its ability to hold the executive accountable because the governing party holds no one accountable.”

10. And finally, we love a good taunt about an election. Anyone who can throw knee-pads into a successful roasting gets a thumbs up from us…

“Anyone whose in the business of making knee-pads will be making a fortune, what with all the praying going off on these ANC benches. Because they know they won’t be coming back here after the next election.”

Did you enjoy these John Steenhuisen quotes? You can relive his best moments through our archives here.