DA leadership race 2026: Hill-Lewis, Msimanga seen as frontrunners

​Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and DA Gauteng Provincial Leader Solly Msimanga have emerged as frontrunners in the DA leadership race. Image:Armand Hough and Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers With reports indicating that DA federal leaderJohn Steenhuisen will not contestthe party’s leadership race in April, attention has shifted to who could emerge as his successor. Steenhuisen is expected to address a press briefing in Durban today, with reports suggesting that he will not seek re-election at the party’s federal congress in April.

As South Africa heads into a critical local government election year, the DA is under pressure to present a leader who can broaden its appeal beyond its traditional base. Party members in KwaZulu-Natal, who declined to be named for fear of reprisals, expressed surprise at the move by Steenhuisen. One leader said, “This is news to me; it sounds like a rumour.” Another member said they were aware of the decision but declined to speak any further on the matter.

DA leader John Steenhuisen may not seek re-election at the party’s federal congress in April. Yet another DA member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the party was in need of fresh blood and direction. “John led the party well out of the 2019 slump as an opposition leader.

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He was right for that time. Our next leader must be strong enough to stand up to the GNU partners so that there is still a strong opposition and DA values are not lost.” Another party leader said the developments were shocking but welcomed. “Party leaders come and go, and they must make a decision from the offices they occupy.

If the leader believes that he or she has reached the limit of their contribution, it is good for them to step aside, or we run the risk of having a leader in office who is 90 years old and cannot even lift a finger.” Another DA leader said: “This (not contesting) is contrary to what we knew was going to happen, as we had believed he was a shoo-in for the post, but the other side of the coin is that if he is indeed not contesting, it is not surprising as we knew that he did not have support in Gauteng or the Western Cape, so re-election would have been very difficult for him.” Political analysts say the leadership contest will test whether the party can position itself as a credible alternative government rather than a permanent opposition. At this stage, two names are emerging as likely frontrunners: Gauteng opposition leader Solly Msimanga and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

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