
Geordin Hill-Lewis has been elected as the new DA federal leader at the partyโs federal congress in Johannesburg on Sunday, April 12, 2026. Hill-Lewis, who is the current mayor of Cape Town, succeeds John Steenhuisen. Steenhuisen, who led the party since 2019, is credited with increasing the DA's popularity and bringing it into power through the government of national unity. Hill-Lewis now faces the challenge of growing the party, addressing racial and voter perceptions, and expanding its support base beyond minority groups. He will also need to strengthen internal party unity and promote geographical expansion, particularly in provinces like Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. A research fellow in political studies and governance at the University of Free State, Theo Neethling, believes Hill-Lewis can achieve these goals by combining service delivery, coalition skills, and an inclusive political style.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Citizen.