Analysts weigh in on Hill-Lewis's strategy for the DA
Newly-elected DA Federal leader Geordin Hill-Lewis.
Image: Armand Hough
Newly elected DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has outlined how he intends to lead the party and prevent Cabinet leaders from crossing ethical lines, analysts feel that time will truly tell whether his approach will work.
Speaking on the sidelines of the DA's announcement of its third tranche of mayoral candidates on Tuesday, he discussed coalition governance and his plans to ensure ministers uphold their responsibilities. Analysts, however, remain sceptical about the effectiveness of his approach.
Hill-Lewis said: “Yes, I'm very respectful of that. That's why I had to have Leon (Schreiber), as I call him, the kind of captain on the field because he's in the Cabinet room, and so I will never expect anyone to cross any ethical or legal boundaries, and so what is clear is this is our strategic mandate.
“They're delivering the DA difference. The day-to-day tactical calls, I actually want to leave to them under Leon's guidance for precisely that reason - I can't get involved in those.”
When asked if he is not outsourcing power, he added: “The key thing is the strategic intent, the strategic direction, which is set by the leader and the leadership, and that is what is absolutely clear. We'll liaise on that constantly as we do already every single day this week, and last week, but the minutiae of the running of the State and Cabinet, Leon is capable of showing leadership on that front.”
DA's Geordin Hill-Lewis and Leon Schreiber pictured when they were both active as Parliament members.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
Schreiber will not be the only person on hand to manage the Cabinet ministers, as the DA has also appointed strategist Ryan Coetzee.
Sharing comments on Hill-Lewis's approach, political analyst Professor André Duvenhage said that he thinks that is the right approach to go to a person like Schreiber and Coetzee.
“My take on it is that it was a big mistake from the side of John Steenhuisen to try to do both things simultaneously; be a leader and try to do a portfolio like agriculture on a national level. This was problematic. The strategy of Hill-Lewis is a lot better, and it's a way of indirect control, but I believe it will improve effectiveness and efficiency.”
Professor Sipho Seepe described Hill-Lewis's response as “an interesting and arguably mature response”.
Seepe elaborated that Cabinet members are individually accountable for their decisions, which are also subject to an element of confidentiality inherent in Cabinet service. He viewed Hill-Lewis's statement as a sign of confidence in his team.
According to Seepe, Hill-Lewis is secure in the belief that “a clear strategy and ideological clarity are adequate to guide members in the type of conduct and decisions expected of DA members”, thereby making “micromanagement of members unnecessary”.
Furthermore, Seepe observed that Hill-Lewis utilised the moment to reiterate the DA's approach to governance: achieving “material change as a measurable outcome where the DA exercises authority”. However, Seepe noted that Hill-Lewis “seems to airbrush John Steenhuisen out of the picture. This may have been unintended, but it seems to write him off in terms of the future of the DA”.
Former DA leader John Steenhuisen.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
University of South Africa’s Professor Dirk Kotzé also questioned the absence of Steenhuisen, whom Hill-Lewis had shown loyalty to, opting to only run as DA leader once Steenhuisen chose not to run.
“I think what is, however, very interesting, is that he didn't choose John Steenhuisen to do it because he's not a former leader of the DA. He is, in terms of seniority, the most senior among them.
“But still, he is not the one who has been given this task. I think I can expect that the response will be that he's so inundated with the issues of the Minister of Agriculture, with Foot-and-Mouth Disease specifically, that he must pay, give all his attention to that and not be bogged down by other responsibilities in the party,” Kotzé said.
Former DA strategist Ryan Coetzee has made a comeback.
Image: File
On Hill-Lewis's remarks, he added that he is using what the ANC calls a two-centres-of-power approach.
“We don't know yet what is going to be the arrangement in Parliament, but with respect to the Cabinet, he identified Schreiber, as well as Coetzee, who has had quite a long history with the DA since the time of Helen Zille as leader, to provide sort of strategic advice to the DA.
“I think what the distinction that Hill-Lewis is making is between the strategic direction in Cabinet, as well as the day-to-day or meeting-to-meeting issues that have to be dealt with right on the spot,” Kotzé said.
“It will be a bit risky to already make any predictions or come to conclusions about it, but it's not something impossible to be implemented.”