Zille's public praise of Hill-Lewis means DA leadership race a ‘done deal’

Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis’s rise to the top of the Democratic Alliance now appears all but inevitable, with political analysts saying his ascent has effectively been sealed following glowing public praise from DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille.

Zille’s comments at the weekend, in which she described Hill-Lewis as capable, intelligent and ethical, have reinforced perceptions that he is the party’s preferred successor ahead of the DA’s April elective conference.

Political analyst Professor Bheki Mngomezulu said the DA’s leadership outcomes are ultimately shaped by Zille’s influence, describing Hill-Lewis’s anticipated victory as a foregone conclusion.

“It’s a done deal. Helen Zille decides who is in and who is out,” Mngomezulu said. “If anyone doubts that, they should look at what happened to Mmusi Maimane. I said back then that he served at the behest of Zille, and when there was a fallout, he was gone. Hill-Lewis will lead the DA. Anyone else contesting is there to make up the numbers.”

Mngomezulu’s comments come amid speculation about Zille’s role in Hill-Lewis’s steady rise within the party. While she has sought to downplay her influence, many within political circles see Hill-Lewis as her protégé and believe she is the central force behind his elevation, a claim she strongly rejects.

Zille has said she has mentored many leaders through the party’s young leaders programme and insists that their success thereafter is not attributable to her. However, she has been unequivocal in her praise of Hill-Lewis.

“Geordin Hill-Lewis used to be my chief of staff. I could see how competent and clever he was, and that matters in politics,” Zille said. “His rise has nothing to do with me. It has everything to do with his exceptional capacity, his integrity and his work ethic. That’s why he has risen, because of who he is, not because of who I am.”

Despite this, Zille has remained guarded about who she will back at the conference. Hill-Lewis is expected to face a challenge from Gauteng DA leader and leader of the opposition in the provincial legislature, Solly Msimanga. The two are widely regarded as the strongest contenders for the party’s top position.

“I’m not saying who I’m voting for,” Zille said. “My vote is my secret. I will go to congress and vote, and we’ll see who contests. I don’t even know who else is contesting.”

Mngomezulu said Hill-Lewis’s appeal lies not only in his performance as Cape Town mayor but in how he fits into the DA’s broader political calculus.

“They believe he has done a good job in Cape Town and are now elevating him to a higher role,” he said. “He is young, he is trusted, and he ticks all the boxes. He appeals to the progressive elements in the party and is seen as someone who can attract younger voters. He is being positioned to project the DA as a party of the future.”

Another political analyst, Professor Kedibone Phago, echoed that view, saying Zille’s public statements leave little doubt about where her support lies, even if she stops short of an outright endorsement.

“She won’t come out and say it because that would expose her hand,” Phago said. “But her words clearly signal acceptance of Hill-Lewis as a leader. Anyone contesting him understands that Zille is backing him, and that makes their path extremely difficult.”

karabo.ngoepe@inl.co.za