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Geordin Hill-Lewis, the newly elected leader of South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA), has outlined an ambitious vision to broaden the party’s appeal beyond its traditional white-voter base, betting that the country’s longstanding racial divides are beginning to ease.
Hill-Lewis, who took over the reins of the centre-right DA at the weekend, replaces John Steenhuisen, who announced in February that he would not seek a third term as party leader.
The 39-year-old Cape Town mayor, now tasked with steering the DA through crucial local elections expected in less than a year, made clear his focus on rejuvenating the party’s outreach efforts. “I really want to focus the party on communicating and most importantly demonstrating that we genuinely care about the advancement of every South African, regardless of the circumstances of their birth,” he told reporters following his election.
Hill-Lewis highlighted that South Africa’s racial silos, once solid and immovable, are beginning to crack.
“For a long time, the kind of racial silos in South Africa have been very firm and concrete but they are cracking and breaking down,” he explained.
With the electorate increasingly favouring parties that can deliver tangible results, Hill-Lewis believes the DA can tap into growing frustration with the country’s political dysfunction and failing services.
While acknowledging the challenges ahead, Hill-Lewis emphasised that his goal was not about overnight success but gradual progress.
“It is about steady one foot in front of the other in the right direction,” he remarked.
The DA, which was formed in 2000 through the merger of three mostly white parties, has long struggled to shed its middle-class, white identity and connect with black voters. In the 2019 national elections, the DA secured about 20 per cent of the vote. It improved slightly to 22 per cent in 2024, and recent polls suggest similar levels of support as local government elections approach later this year.
Hill-Lewis reiterated that while the DA will continue opposing policies like Black Economic Empowerment, National Health Insurance, and social grants, it remains committed to addressing inequality without supporting “elite enrichment.” The DA’s pro-business stance, which calls for a liberal, free-market economy, will remain a cornerstone of its platform as it works to build broader support.
South Africa’s coalition government, which includes the DA, reflects a shift away from the African National Congress (ANC), which lost its 30-year majority in the 2024 elections. With a national unemployment rate of around 31 per cent, millions of South Africans depend on welfare, while economic empowerment initiatives seek to address the legacy of apartheid.
Despite the hurdles, Hill-Lewis’s vision for a more inclusive DA reflects a calculated strategy to navigate South Africa’s complex political landscape and appeal to a more diverse electorate.
