Lilita Gcwabe|Updated8 hours agoGeordin Hill-Lewis and Solly Msimanga lead the charge for new DA leadership

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced his bid to lead the Democratic Alliance. Cape Town MayorGeordin Hill-Lewishas officially entered the race to lead theDemocratic Alliance(DA), pledging to grow the party’s support and restore public confidence in South Africa’s future. Launching his campaign on Thursday, Hill-Lewis said his decision came at a pivotal moment for both the party and the country.

“I know South Africa can work. And I want to help make it so,” he said. “That is why I am today announcing that I am standing to be the next leader of the Democratic Alliance.” His announcement follows DA leaderJohn Steenhuisen’s decision not to seek re-election, opening the way for new leadership ahead of the party’s Federal Congress in April and positioning the DA for the next phase of national politics.

Hill-Lewis pointed to his record as mayor of Cape Town as proof that DA governance delivers measurable results, particularly in job creation. “We have become the country’s leading city in the growth of new jobs, with 470,000 new jobs created in Cape Town, more than in all other cities combined. When cities work, people work.” He said his campaign would focus on expanding the party’s reach and building trust among voters who have never supported the DA before.

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At the same time, Gauteng DA leaderSolly Msimangahas accepted his nomination for federal chairperson, signalling a broader leadership renewal within the party. “The DA must now prepare to lead in this new era. For the first time in a democratic South Africa, the ANC has fallen below 50% nationally, with further declines in several provinces and municipalities,” Msimanga said.

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