CAPE TOWN, April 12 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-largest party in the ruling coalition, on Sunday elected Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis as its leader.
The election took place at the party's national congress, held from April 11 to 12 at the Gallagher Convention Center in Midrand, Gauteng Province.
The DA announced on its X account immediately after the election: "Geordin Hill-Lewis is the newly elected Federal Leader, ready to lead the next generation of DA leadership to get South Africa working."
Hill-Lewis won the internal race against Sibusiso Dyonase, DA's caucus leader in Sedibeng of Gauteng Province.
The 39-year-old Cape Town mayor now succeeds Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, who had led the party since 2019 but chose not to run for re-election.
"Today, the Democratic Alliance is delighted to announce the results of the leadership elections which took place at the elective Federal Congress 2026," the party said in an official statement issued later.
According to the statement, in Sunday's election, DA's Gauteng Provincial Leader Solly Msimanga was elected as the federal chairperson, while Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen was elected as the party's Federal Council chairperson.
The DA, which used to be South Africa's largest opposition party, joined the Government of National Unity following the African National Congress's loss of parliamentary majority in the 2024 general elections. ■
