DA Leader Geordin Hill‑Lewis Calls for a Post‑ANC Future
In a recent briefing in Sandton, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Geordin Hill‑Lewis warned that the African National Congress (ANC) is losing its electoral dominance and urged South Africans to begin preparing for a political landscape no longer defined by the liberation party. His remarks came after two years of participation in the Government of National Unity (GNU), a coalition formed when the ANC’s national vote fell below 50 % in the 2024 general elections.
Context: The Government of National Unity
President Cyril Ramaphosa invited the DA and several smaller parties — including the United Democratic Movement (UDM), Freedom Front Plus, Rise Mzansi, Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Patriotic Alliance (PA) and GOOD — to join the GNU after the ANC’s historic dip in support. Hill‑Lewis said the decision to participate was driven by a desire to keep “destructive populists” out of power and to demonstrate what a DA‑led government could deliver for citizens.
He emphasized that his continued leadership of the DA is rooted in accountability to voters, not to the presidency: “I don’t owe my position to President Ramaphosa. I owe it to the millions of people who voted for us and the millions who haven’t voted for us yet.”
Polling Data and Electoral Shifts
Recent surveys confirm the ANC’s weakening grip. An Ipsos South Africa poll conducted in March 2026 placed the ANC at 45 % nationally, with support below 50 % across all racial, age and income groups (Ipsos, 2026). Afrobarometer’s Round 9 survey (late 2025) showed that if only black South Africans were counted, the ANC would secure roughly 48 % of the vote — insufficient for a parliamentary majority (Afrobarometer, 2025).
These figures echo the 2024 election outcome, where the ANC received 46.3 % of the national vote, marking the first time since 1994 that it failed to win an outright majority (IEC, 2024). Hill‑Lewis framed the shift as “our second transition,” urging citizens to consider what a post‑ANC South Africa might look like.
Hill‑Lewis’s Vision for a Citizen‑Centric South Africa
During his address, Hill‑Lewis outlined five pillars that he believes should guide the next phase of governance:
- A state that belongs to the people, not to any political party.
- An economy that offers opportunities for all, without preferential treatment for the politically connected.
- An education system focused on the needs of children, not on union interests.
- A criminal justice system that protects law‑abiding citizens rather than those who exploit them.
- A social welfare system that builds freedom of choice, not dependency.
He argued that the success of any government should be measured by lived experience: whether schools function, clinics provide care, trains run on time, crimes are investigated, and lights stay on. “The standard by which government should be judged is the lived experience of the people on whose behalf it governs,” he said.
Implications for the Upcoming Local Elections
Local elections are scheduled for 4 November 2026. Hill‑Lewis urged voters to use the municipal polls as a referendum on the GNU’s performance and on the broader question of whether South Africa is ready for a new political order. He pledged that the DA would make public the policy positions it has taken within the coalition whenever the ANC refuses to consult or compromise, framing transparency as a democratic duty rather than a threat.
Analysts note that if current trends persist, opposition parties could collectively gain enough influence at the municipal level to challenge ANC dominance in key metros such as Johannesburg, Tshwane and eThekwini (SA News, 2026). The outcome may shape the national conversation ahead of the 2029 general election.
As South Africa stands at this crossroads, Hill‑Lewis’s call for a citizen‑centered future invites both scrutiny and hope. Whether the nation embraces his vision will depend on the willingness of voters, parties and institutions to prioritize everyday experiences over partisan loyalties.
