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South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA), the country’s second-largest political party, has elected Cape Town’s mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, as its new leader, aiming to position the party strongly for the 2029 national elections.
Hill-Lewis, 39, assumed leadership during a party congress on Sunday, marking a pivotal moment in the DA’s strategy to draw support away from the ruling African National Congress (ANC), whose grip on power has been weakening in recent years.
In his acceptance speech, Hill-Lewis promised unwavering dedication to the mission of creating a stronger South Africa for all citizens, regardless of how long he holds the leadership role.
“I stand before you as your newly elected leader with one promise: however long I have the privilege of serving in this job, I will be dedicated to the mission of building a stronger South Africa for everyone,” he said.
Hill-Lewis has been mayor of Cape Town since 2021, overseeing the prosperous city, which has become a major international tourist hub. The city is the capital of the Western Cape, the only province currently governed by the DA.
Hill-Lewis has outlined his ambition to expand the DA’s reach, telling the party congress, “Our mission is to build the DA into the biggest party in South Africa.”
The DA’s entry into the multi-party coalition government in 2024 followed the ANC’s loss of its majority for the first time in over three decades.
Once a dominant force in post-apartheid South Africa, the ANC has seen its popularity plunge from 62 per cent in the 1994 elections to just 40 per cent in 2024, driven by corruption scandals and dissatisfaction with its governance.
The DA’s share of the vote stood at 22 per cent in 2024, and polling by Ipsos suggests similar levels of support ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
Despite these challenges, the ANC remains the most supported party in the country, with a recent poll showing it holding 38 per cent of the vote.
