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Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said on Thursday he is considering a bid to lead the Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s second-largest party and a key coalition partner in the national government.
The announcement comes a day after current DA leader John Steenhuisen revealed he would not seek re-election in the party leadership contest scheduled for April, sparking speculation about potential successors.
Political analysts have identified Hill-Lewis, mayor since 2021, as a frontrunner for the role.
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Hill-Lewis said he had been approached by many party members to contest for the position of Federal Leader. He added that he would decide and make his intentions public later this month, in accordance with party rules on when campaigning can begin.
“After John Steenhuisen’s announcement yesterday, I have been approached by many party members to stand for the position of Federal Leader.”
The mayor also confirmed that regardless of his decision on the federal leadership, he plans to run for a second term as Cape Town mayor in the local government elections expected later this year.
The DA forms part of South Africa’s coalition government, established in June 2024 after the African National Congress (ANC) lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994. It currently holds 22% of the seats in the lower house of parliament, while the ANC has 41%.
