Hill-Lewis aims for Cape Town mayoral re-election amid mixed reactions to DA leadership
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has been elected leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA),
Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
The election of Geordin Hill-Lewis as Federal Leader of the DA has drawn sharply divided reactions, as he confirmed he will seek re-election as Cape Town mayor while taking on the party’s top national role.
Hill-Lewis emerged as the new Federal Leader at the weekend, taking over from John Steenhuisen.
Hill-Lewis on Monday confirmed he intends to seek another term as mayor.
“I absolutely do intend to seek re-election in the upcoming local elections," he said.
"The job as Mayor of Cape Town is incredibly meaningful to me, along with our mission of growing the economy to lift more people out of poverty and into employment.”
Hill-Lewis said his party will actively oppose policies within the Government of National Unity (GNU) that undermine growth, fairness, and constitutional freedoms.
Delivering his acceptance speech at the party’s elective conference, he rejected the idea that participation in government required silence or compromise at any cost.
Instead, he cast the DA as a party determined to prove its distinct approach to governance.
The Cape Independence Advocacy Group (CIAG) welcomed his national elevation, pointing to his record in Cape Town and his willingness to confront national government failures.
The group said the DA has long advocated for federalism and the devolution of powers to capable provinces, but warned that recent efforts in the Western Cape have not produced meaningful results.
“This raises an increasingly important question: what constitutional mechanisms remain available when devolution is repeatedly pursued, but consistently denied?” the organisation said.
Freedom Front Plus leader Corné Mulder congratulated Hill-Lewis and said his party remains committed to working with others to improve the country.
He added that the party hopes the DA under Hill-Lewis can be counted among such partners, but cautioned against its centrist positioning.
“The danger of a centrist positioning is that such a party becomes neither fish nor fowl as it tries to be everything to everyone, only to end up as nothing to anyone,” he said.
In contrast, the National Coloured Congress (NCC), led by Fadiel Adams, made a series of allegations against Hill-Lewis, without providing evidence, linking him to alleged wrongdoing related to the so-called “tender 357Q”.
“The NCC notes the promotion of Geordin Hill-Lewis as leader of the Conservative Party in liberal apparel. Allow us to observe the protocol and congratulate Mr Hill Lewis on his Helen Zille inspired victory,” the organisation said.
“Then allow us to be honest, this man has been promoted to the highest office of white supremacy as a reward for his role in the cover up of the biggest heist in local government history, the tender 357Q, for which 7 people are before the court and one City official has been murdered.”
“The new DA leader’s role in the fraud? Mr Hill-Lewis had the audacity to lie to full council about the monies stolen,” it added.
The DA was approached for comment on the allegations.
Backing Hill-Lewis, Western Cape DA leader Tertuis Simmers said the party is confident in his leadership.
He said Hill-Lewis’ leadership would be guided by four key pillars, including demonstrating governance success, strengthening connections with residents and acting as a strong partner in national government.
“This confidence is firmly rooted in his proven track record of governance excellence as the Mayor of City of Cape Town,” he said.