johannesburg– South Africa’s second largest political party, democratic allianceA new leader was elected on Sunday who defended the alliance with the African National Congress and outlined plans to lead the next government.
Geordie Hill-Lewis, who is currently mayor of Cape Town, was elected at the party’s federal congress in Johannesburg on Sunday.
His election comes ahead of local elections later this year, as support for opposition parties grows and the ANC’s appeal declines.
The ANC has ruled the country since the end of white minority rule in 1994, but was forced to negotiate Coalition government with Democratic Alliance and other smaller opposition parties after losing their parliamentary majority in the 2024 elections.
Addressing members of her party after being elected, Hill-Lewis defended the party’s decision to enter into a coalition with the ANC, but said the intention was to win the next election outright.
He said, “I am not satisfied with being a junior partner in a coalition government. Our ambition should be to lead the national government. This is the next chapter in the glorious history of our party.”
He said the party has proved in the cities where it rules that it can lead the national government. “We can win power in South Africa, but only if we govern well, be there for every South African, in every community, and act as a strong and principled coalition partner.”
Government faced obstacles Due to severe ideological differences between the two parties. They oppose each other on key policies including affirmative action, land restitution, and black economic empowerment.
