Geordin Hill-Lewis elected DA leader

Geordin Hill-Lewis, newly elected federal leader of the DA. (Photo: Christine Oelofse/Maroela Media)

Geordin Hill-Lewis has just been elected as the new leader of the Democratic Alliance.

At 39 years of age, he is the fifth leader of this party since its foundation in 2000, although not the youngest. Mmusi Maimane was 35 years old when he was elected to office in 2015.

“I just want to say thank you for the support of every delegate from every province in the country,” Hill-Lewis told Maroela Media.

After outgoing leader John Steenhuisen announced in February that he would not stand for election as leader again, Hill-Lewis emerged as the favorite successor. His candidacy was unopposed until a late stage. Two weeks before the congress, however, Sibusiso Dyonase, DA caucus leader in Sedibeng, threw his name in the hat.

After the candidates’ final speeches on Saturday, DA federal congress attendees voted for their new leader on Sunday morning.

“To everyone who followed the congress at home, I want to say: We are so used to decline in our country. Our goal over the next few years is to create new hope for the country, and to start building that South Africa that we all still know in our hearts is possible.

“To do this, the DA wants to be the largest party in the country. This is the work that begins today.”