South Africa’s newly elected Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the success of the country’s coalition government and is scheduled to meet President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday.
Hill-Lewis, who currently serves as the Mayor of Cape Town, was elected leader of the pro-business Democratic Alliance at a party conference held over the weekend.
The DA is the second-largest party in South Africa’s “Government of National Unity,” a coalition formed in 2024 after the ruling African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in national elections.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Hill-Lewis described the coalition as a historic opportunity to steer the country toward economic growth, job creation, and meaningful reforms. He said the current arrangement could be “the best chance South Africa has had in probably 25 years to get the country on a better path.”
He also characterized his upcoming meeting with President Ramaphosa as a “get-to-know-you” session, emphasizing that he does not intend to assert pressure or seek influence during the discussion.
“I’m not going there to throw my weight around,” Hill-Lewis said, adding that he plans to continue serving as mayor of Cape Town rather than pursuing a role in the national government.
Hill-Lewis has held the position of Cape Town mayor since the 2021 municipal elections, leading one of the country’s key economic and tourism hubs.