Gwarube backs Geordin Hill-Lewis to become new DA leader

As John Steenhuisen bows out as Democratic Alliance (DA) leader this weekend, his possible successor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, has already received public endorsements from several of the party’s key leaders.

Under his stewardship, a bloc of under-40 candidates is looking to make a clean sweep across the party’s federal council structures at all-important elections this weekend, with the hope of refreshing the DA as it looks to become the country’s biggest party ahead of the 2029 national elections.

Among them is Siviwe Gwarube, who nominated the Cape Town mayor to lead the party into the future.

Gwarube believes Hill-Lewis is a person of integrity and has the right temperament to navigate the choppy waters of coalition politics.

"Younger people have got to lead and come to the front. And so, I really hope he can lead this new generation of leaders into the new frontiers of the DA."

Gwarube, who served as Steenhuisen’s chief whip in Parliament before the DA entered the Government of National Unity (GNU), said that his contribution to bringing the party to its current position can’t be discounted.

"John Steenhuisen has done his work. He’s led the party for six years. He led the party into the national government. So, we’ve got to take the mantle."

While Hill-Lewis is expected to once again be the party’s mayoral candidate for Cape Town, Gwarube believes there will be pros and cons to him sitting outside of the executive as the party settles into its position within the GNU.

Hill-Lewis will be contesting for the leadership against a lesser-known candidate, Sibusiso Dyonase from the Sedibeng municipality.