Geordin Hill-Lewis keeps DA leadership plans close to his chest

Following the announcement that current leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), John Steenhuisen, will not seek re-election this year, many fingers are pointing to the mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, to take on the position. 

This was confirmed by Hill-Lewis himself in a recent social media post.

“After John Steenhuisen’s announcement yesterday, I have been approached by many party members to stand for the position of federal leader,” he posted to X.

However, he added that he will not share his plans with regard to the position until the party’s official nomination period begins. 

“That will happen later this month, which is when I will announce my intentions,” he said. He said that it is an honour to be considered for the leadership role.

Steenhuisen announced on 4 February that he would not be in the next leadership race in a press conference in eThekwini.

He said he delivered on his 2019 promise to get the DA into the national government, and that he would be leaving the position with the DA “in the strongest position it has ever been.” 

He said the next mission of the DA is to become the largest party in the country, but that mission is not his to lead.

Hill-Lewis has long stressed that he would never run for the DA’s leadership position as long as Steenhuisen is in the race, despite expressing interest in national leadership in his future.

Hill-Lewis has publicly expressed strong loyalty to Steenhuisen, describing him as a “dear friend” and repeatedly stating he has no intention of contesting for DA leadership as long as Steenhuisen wants to continue.

Steenhuisen has backed Hill-Lewis in key roles, such as backing him as the DA’s mayoral candidate for Cape Town in 2021, leading to Hill-Lewis becoming mayor.

Previously, he retained him in prominent shadow cabinet positions, like the Shadow Minister of Finance under Steenhuisen’s leadership since 2020.

Running for re-election as Cape Town mayor regardless

Hill-Lewis emphasised in his latest comment that, regardless of his plan to run for DA Leader, he is committed to standing for a second term as the Mayor of Cape Town. 

“It is the DA’s biggest government and our strongest platform as we head into the local elections,” he said.

Political analyst and University of South Africa (UNISA) professor Dirk Kotzé previously told Newsday that Hill-Lewis is playing a vital role for the party by holding its position in the Western Cape. 

He warned that taking on the role of DA leader and mayor of Cape Town will be politically difficult. 

The DA’s Federal Chairperson and former Mayor of Cape Town, Helen Zille, once held both roles between 2006 and 2009, but Kotzé said that this was “not ideal” and drew much criticism from the African National Congress (ANC).

The ANC argued that Zille’s priorities were driven by narrow party interests, rather than by the broader needs of Cape Town residents. 

Kotzé said, however, that it would be difficult to replace Steenhuisen, for the simple reason that no one else within the DA has expressed interest in running.

However, according to Hill Lewis, the upcoming April elective congress will not be a one-horse race. 

The Cape Town Mayor said that if he were to stand for election as leader, he would “welcome a robust and principled process, focused on competing ideas for the future of our party and our country.”

“We have many excellent leaders, and an open exchange of ideas can only strengthen us,” he said. 

Newsday recently reported how Hill-Lewis said he would “definitely” run for president if given the opportunity. 

“I got into politics and am still very passionate about politics because it gives you the best opportunity and leverage to do something really positive in our country and our society,” he said. 

He said that he got into politics to try to build a South Africa that he knows is possible. 

“So you can really do that a lot as a mayor, and I repeat, I think being a mayor of a city is one of the most important and coolest jobs in the country,” he said. 

“But obviously your leverage, your opportunity, your impact only grows as you move into national government,” he said. “So yes. Definitely.”