Geordin Hill-Lewis officially standing to be next DA leader
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said he’ll stand for election as leader of the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-biggest political party, a contest he’s widely expected to win.
John Steenhuisen has led the DA since 2019. He announced earlier this month that we won’t stand for another term when the party holds its elective conference in April.
Nominations for a successor opened on Friday.
“I will be seeking a specific mandate, a mandate to build a stronger DA,” Hill-Lewis told supporters in Cape Town. “If we are to build a stronger South Africa, we must have a stronger DA.”
The DA, which garnered 22% support in the last national elections in 2024, is a member of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 10-party coalition government.
Hill-Lewis signalled that he backs the DA’s continued participation in the so-called government of national unity.
“The decision to join the GNU was the correct one, there is no doubt,” he said. “A DA that resigns itself to permanent opposition status is weak.”
“We cannot be satisfied with shouting from the sidelines. Making a noise is not the same as making a difference.”
Hill-Lewis, 39, has served as mayor of South Africa’s second-biggest city since 2021 and won praise for his management of the tourism and financial-services hub.
He’s said he intends to seek reelection to that post in the upcoming municipal elections, a job he can do while concurrently leading the DA.
The DA’s elective conference is due to take place on April 11, and nominations for leadership posts will close next month. Hill-Lewis is the only person to be nominated for the top job so far.
Ashor Sarupen, a deputy finance minister, has said he will run for the position of DA federal executive chairman. The post is currently held by Helen Zille, who is running for mayor of Johannesburg.
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