By Semafor Africa
Photos: YouTube Screenshot|Wikimedia Commons
South Africa’s Democratic Alliance, the country’s second-largest political party, elected Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis as its new head, completing a leadership transition that comes at a time of increasingly competitive coalition-era politics.
The 39-year-old replaces John Steenhuisen as the DA navigates its role inside the government of national unity while preparing for local elections later this year. His tenure as Cape Town mayor was marked by an emphasis on infrastructure redevelopment, a focus that is expected to shape the party’s messaging as it seeks to broaden its appeal.
In his acceptance speech, Hill-Lewis vowed to make the party the largest political force in the country, saying he was “not satisfied with being a junior partner” in the coalition, and committing to the DA’s existing policies, which include scrapping Black empowerment laws and the national health insurance scheme.
The African National Congress remains South Africa’s biggest party — it won about 40% of the vote in the 2024 election — but its electoral support is waning amid widespread discontent over corruption, poor delivery of basic services, and a stagnant economy.
