DA Leader Geordin Hill‑Lewis Stands Firm Ahead of Tense Federal Council Meeting
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is bracing for one of its most charged Federal Council gatherings in recent memory. Scheduled for Saturday at the party’s headquarters in Nkululeko House, Johannesburg, the meeting will revisit two flashpoints that have dominated internal debate since Hill‑Lewis assumed the leadership: the demotion of former leader John Steenhuisenhuisen’shuisen and the ongoing scrutiny of Tony Leon’s public‑relations firm, Resolve Communications.
Speaking to the Sunday Times during a campaign tour in Johannesburg alongside former Federal Council leader Helen Zille, Hill‑Lewis made clear that he has no regrets about the decisions that have sparked weeks of unrest within the official opposition.
“I expect Resolve Communications to be discussed… I think it was the right decision for the party. I will defend it to everyone,” Hill‑Lewis said.
The Steenhuisen Demotion and Its Fallout
Hill‑Lewis’s first major move as party leader was a reshuffle of the Board of Directors of Public Prosecutions, which saw his longtime ally and predecessor Steenhuisen stripped of the influential agriculture portfolio and appointed deputy minister of trade, industry and competition.
The demotion was announced without extensive consultation, prompting accusations from senior DA figures that the leadership had sidelined one of the party’s longest‑serving members. Steenhuisen later broke his silence in an explosive interview with News24, claiming Hill‑Lewis had promised his cabinet post would remain secure after he stepped down as party leader.
“He headed a baying mob to appease conservative elements within the party and suggested that outside interests were influencing decisions at the top,” Steenhuisen alleged.
The interview also revived concerns about Resolve Communications, with Steenhuisen asserting that DA ministers serving in the national unity government had been pressured to meet the firm’s clients.
Resolve Communications Under Scrutiny
Resolve Communications, founded by former DA leader Tony Leon, has been at the centre of a controversy that alleges improper influence over DA‑led municipalities. Key points raised in the debate include:
- An affidavit submitted by a former senior City of Tshwane official to the Public Protector claims Leon met then‑mayor Solly Msimanga in 2017 to discuss securing contracts for Resolve from the metro.
- Former DA leader Mmusi Maimane has alleged that Leon approached Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba in 2016 about a business relationship between Resolve and the city, an approach Mashaba reportedly rejected.
- The firm performed communications work for the City of Cape Town during the 2018 drought crisis, although the municipality has since said it no longer engages Resolve.
Leon and Resolve have firmly denied all allegations of wrongdoing. Hill‑Lewis dismissed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s comparison of the firm’s interactions with DA ministers to state capture, calling it “political sensationalism.”
Internal Party Reaction
The manner in which Steenhuisen was removed has left many DA MPs feeling blindsided. Party insiders told the Sunday Times that the news first emerged in Afrikaans media, leaving little time for internal discussion.
DA MP Emma Powell voiced her frustration in the parliamentary WhatsApp group, writing:
“The expediency and sheer scale of the betrayal here is breathtaking… He gave the best years of his life to the DA and the leadership reneged on its commitments when he agreed to step down as party leader.”
Sources indicated Powell’s comments reflected broader dissatisfaction among lawmakers who believed the reshuffle was mishandled. Hill‑Lewis, however, downplayed the notion of a serious revolt, describing the dissent as “corridor politics” involving only a handful of caucus members.
Focus on Local Elections Amid Internal Turmoil
Despite the negative headlines, Hill‑Lewis insists the party’s priority remains the upcoming local government elections in November. He argued that voters are far more concerned with service delivery and urban governance than internal party disputes.
“I’m not worried… I think voters in South Africa are overwhelmingly focused on what’s going to get these major metropolises back up and running, particularly here in Gauteng,” he said.
He added that leadership, not luck, will determine the outcome of the elections, pointing to stark differences between cities that are improving and those that are deteriorating.
Conclusion
Saturday’s Federal Council meeting will test Hill‑Lewis’s ability to consolidate authority after a tumultuous start to his leadership. While the demotion of Steenhuisen and the Resolve Communications controversy continue to fuel debate, the DA leader remains steadfast in defending his choices and steering the party’s attention toward the pressing challenges facing South Africa’s municipalities.
