Geordin Hill‑Lewis Talks About Cape Town Mayoral Race
His Intent to Run
Geordin Hill‑Lewis, the leader of the Federal Democratic Alliance, said he really wants to be the DA’s candidate for mayor of Cape Town. He called it his “strong intention” to run, but he stressed that the final choice isn’t up to him alone.
When Will the Decision Be Made?
He explained that the party will announce the mayoral nominee next month. The decision will go through the DA’s Federal Executive Board, and Hill‑Lewis said he won’t be part of that discussion because he is one of the possible candidates. The official name should be revealed toward the end of June.
DA’s Candidate Announcements
The Democratic Alliance has been rolling out mayoral hopefuls across the Western Cape since March. Recently they added names for smaller towns—Prince Albert’s Linda Jaquet and Theewaterskloof’s Jan Visagie. Tertuis Simmers, the DA Western Cape leader, reminded everyone that with less than six months until the local elections, these candidates have a big job keeping their cities running well for all residents.
Why Voter Registration Matters
Hill‑Lewis pointed out that winning isn’t guaranteed just because Cape Town works well. He urged DA supporters who have moved to the city from elsewhere to re‑register their votes in Cape Town. “If they stay registered where they used to live, they can’t help us move the city forward,” he said. The party plans to focus on two statewide registration weekends in the coming months before shifting to the full election campaign.
Balancing Party Leadership and Mayoral Duties
When asked how he will handle being both the DA federal leader and a potential mayor, Hill‑Lewis admitted it’s a tough juggling act. His first month has been busy with travel, but he’s setting up systems and schedules to keep things under control. He’s been campaigning on weekends—like a recent trip to Polokwane—while spending weekdays in Cape Town, hoping to find a rhythm that works for both roles.
Conclusion
Hill‑Lewis made it clear that the DA isn’t taking anything for granted. He warned that other parties are eyeing Cape Town as the only well‑functioning city in the country, and losing it would be bad for residents. His message: work hard, listen to voters, keep pushing for better services, and never get comfortable in politics. The next few months will be all about voter registration, followed by a full‑scale effort to earn the mayoral seat.
