Democratic Alliance Elects Cape Town Mayor as New Leader
South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-largest political party, has chosen a mayor from Cape Town to guide its efforts toward the national elections in 2029. This move aims to capture votes from the struggling African National Congress (ANC).
Jordyn Hill-Lewis, at 39, represents a new direction for the center-right party, particularly following its coalition government’s formation in 2024, when the ANC lost its majority.
After the results of the election were announced, Mr. Hill-Lewis expressed his dissatisfaction with the DA’s current role as a coalition partner. “I am not satisfied with being a junior partner in a coalition government,” he stated. His ambition, he emphasized, is for the DA to lead the central government, indicating a clear vision for the party’s future.
The DA currently holds six ministerial positions within the coalition, while the ANC commands 20. The coalition has been recognized for restoring some confidence in South Africa after a long period marked by corruption and mismanagement.
The DA oversees the Western Cape and Cape Town, which are noted for being among the better-managed regions—contrasting sharply with areas like Johannesburg that struggle with reliable basic services such as water and electricity.
Hill-Lewis described the unity government as “complex and challenging,” acknowledging the difficulties yet underscoring the desire for cooperation rather than disruption. He has been managing Cape Town since 2021, which has grown significantly as a tourist destination.
In the recent 2024 elections, the ANC secured only 40% of the vote, a stark decline from the 62% it garnered in 1994, marking the end of white minority rule. This decline has pushed the ANC to seek coalition partners. The DA is projected to secure around 22% in the upcoming local government elections scheduled between November and January, with polls indicating similar trends.
Despite the ANC’s challenges, it remains the most popular party at 38%, according to a recent Ipsos survey of 3,600 participants published last month. The party is also preparing for a leadership conference next year before the 2029 elections, with no clear successor to President Cyril Ramaphosa emerging yet.
As the likely presidential candidate for the DA, Hill-Lewis mentioned his mission to establish the party as the largest in South Africa. Among the various crises facing the country, he highlighted a pressing need to combat crime and restore faith in the legal system. “We have to take back our streets,” he asserted. The country is grappling with one of the highest murder rates globally, with daily rates surpassing 60 according to police figures.
Unemployment, at approximately 31%, was identified as the most significant concern for South Africa’s population of 63 million, followed by issues related to illegal immigration and corruption.
Veteran DA activist Helen Gill, the party’s candidate for mayor of Johannesburg in upcoming elections, is running a distinctive campaign that includes a symbolic visit to large water-filled potholes in the city.
In her recent parliamentary address, she responded to critiques regarding the party’s racial composition, affirming its commitment to inclusion. “We are a party of inclusion, not division. We call ourselves blue people, not black, white or brown,” she declared.
Gill expressed optimism about the DA’s growth, indicating that they are on the path to becoming the largest political party in urban areas in South Africa by year-end, setting sights on further expanding their influence.
