South Africa’s second-largest party, the Democratic Alliance, elected Geordin Hill-Lewis as leader, signalling a renewed push ahead of the 2029 national elections.
The 39-year-old mayor of Cape Town secured a widely expected victory, marking a reset for the centre-right party.
Hill-Lewis vowed to move beyond a supporting role in government, declaring ambition to lead the country’s next administration.
The DA joined a coalition in 2024 after the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority for the first time.
That unity government, though strained, has been credited with restoring a measure of stability after years of corruption and mismanagement.
The DA currently holds six cabinet posts, far fewer than the ANC, reflecting its junior position within the coalition arrangement.
It also governs the Western Cape and Cape Town, often cited as more effectively managed than cities like Johannesburg facing service delivery failures.
Hill-Lewis described the coalition as complex but necessary, arguing voters favour cooperation over political turmoil.
The ANC’s support fell to 40 percent in 2024, a sharp decline from its dominant position after the end of apartheid in 1994.
Polling by Ipsos shows the ANC still leading with 38 percent, while the DA holds steady near 22 percent.
Positioning himself as a future presidential contender, Hill-Lewis pledged to grow the DA into the country’s largest political force.
He highlighted crime as a central challenge, calling for urgent action to restore public safety and trust in justice institutions.
South Africa continues to face high murder rates and deep unemployment, with millions struggling amid economic and social pressures.
Senior party figure Helen Zille reinforced the DA’s expansion strategy, aiming to dominate major metropolitan areas in upcoming local elections.
She framed the party as inclusive, rejecting racial divisions while setting sights on becoming South Africa’s leading political movement.