Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has officially stepped into the race to succeed John Steenhuisen as leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), confirming on Friday that he has accepted a nomination for the party’s top post.
Hill-Lewis made the declaration at the Elsies River Civic Centre on the Cape Flats, where senior DA figures and party supporters gathered for the launch of his leadership bid.
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The announcement comes as nominations for the DA’s leadership positions opened ahead of the party’s federal congress scheduled for April.
DA Leadership Race 2026: Hill-Lewis Accepts Nomination
Addressing supporters,he confirmed he would contest the leadership under the campaign banner: “a stronger DA, a strong SA”.
His campaign launch drew a sizeable crowd, signalling early momentum in what is expected to be a closely watched internal contest.
The federal congress in April will determine who takes over from Steenhuisen, setting the tone for the party’s direction in the coming years.
Several high-profile party leaders attended the launch in a visible show of support. Among them were Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber and Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson.
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Their presence underscored the significance of Hill-Lewis’s entry into the race and highlighted growing backing within senior ranks of the party.
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Cilliers Brink Endorses Hill-Lewis for DA Leader
Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink was the first to publicly endorse Hill-Lewis, pointing to his record as Cape Town mayor as a key reason for his support.
Brink, alongside Gwarube, threw his weight behind the bid during the event, reinforcing the message that Hill-Lewis’s leadership in the Mother City positions him as a strong contender in the national race.
With nominations now open and campaigning under way, attention turns to April’s federal congress, where DA delegates will decide who will lead the party into its next chapter.
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