Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced his bid to lead the Democratic Alliance.
Image: Henk Kruger
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced his candidacy for the federal leadership of the Democratic Alliance (DA) at the Elsies River Civic Centre on Friday morning.
The announcement comes as the DA seeks to consolidate its position following John Steenhuisen's decision to step aside as federal leader. Hill-Lewis's campaign is framed around the theme of "building a country of hope," attracting a substantial gathering of supporters at the event.
In recent weeks, Hill-Lewis said he had been approached by party members to stand for the position, but emphasised that the DA’s internal campaign rules prohibit public campaigning until the formal nomination period opens.
“That will happen later this month, which is when I will announce my intentions,” he said previously.
He has also indicated that, regardless of the outcome of the federal contest, he intends to stand for a second term as mayor of Cape Town, describing the metro as the party’s biggest government and strongest platform heading into the local elections.
Western Cape provincial leader Tertius Simmers, speaking recently, stressed that the party’s mayoral candidate selection processes are proceeding independently of the federal leadership race.
The DA has already announced the first tranche of mayoral candidates across the province, with the City of Cape Town candidate expected to be named between mid- and late March.
“These processes aren’t influenced by any sort of congresses. Even if an aspirant mayoral candidate might be contesting for such a position, it’s a separate process,” Simmers said.
Cape Argus