The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis, has claimed victory in the City of Cape Town mayoral election. According to the latest results from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the DA is leading with over 60% of the votes, while the African National Congress (ANC) trails behind with just under 12%. With just over 60% of the valid votes declared, Hill-Lewis addressed supporters outside the IEC's provincial results centre in Century City, expressing his gratitude for the strong endorsement.
Hill-Lewis attributed the DA's victory to a good voter turnout in traditional DA strongholds in Cape suburbia, as well as increased support in areas on the Cape Flats such as Gugulethu and Khayelitsha. He stated that it was "safe to say" that the DA would have its best results ever in Cape Town's townships. The DA leader emphasized that their efforts in Cape Town over the past five years were not just about the city, but about demonstrating what was possible in South Africa.
The IEC results, as of 1 pm on Thursday, indicated that the DA was on course to retain Cape Town with a marginally improved majority. Hill-Lewis predicted that Cape Town would be the only metro municipality in the country with an outright majority winner, while the other seven metros, including Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and Nelson Mandela Bay, would likely require coalition governments.
Hill-Lewis expressed his confidence that the DA would emerge as the dominant coalition negotiator in metros where there was no outright majority winner. He stated that it was "a great, wonderful day for Cape Town and a very good day for South Africa." The DA leader's assertions were met with loud cheers from party members who braved the drizzling weather to celebrate their victory.
The ANC's performance in Cape Town was significantly lower than the DA's, with the party polling just under 12% of the votes. Other parties, such as the Patriotic Alliance (PA), also trailed behind, with 4.23% of the votes. With the majority of votes declared, it was unlikely that the picture would change, hence Hill-Lewis's decision to claim victory.
Hill-Lewis's victory speech was marked by emotion, as he expressed his gratitude to the people of Cape Town for showing up to vote. He stated that he was "overwhelmed" by the strong endorsement and that it meant a great deal to him. The DA leader emphasized that the party's efforts in Cape Town were about showing that progress was possible in South Africa, despite the country's challenges.
The DA's predicted victory in Cape Town marks a significant achievement for the party, which has been working to improve its performance in townships. Hill-Lewis's claims of victory were made in accordance with the IEC's results, which indicated a clear lead for the DA. The party's performance in Cape Town has implications for the broader municipal elections, with Hill-Lewis predicting that the DA would play a key role in coalition governments in other metros.
Key points
- The DA is predicted to win an outright majority in Cape Town, with over 60% of the votes.
- The ANC trails behind the DA in Cape Town, with just under 12% of the votes.
- The DA's victory in Cape Town marks a significant achievement for the party, which has been working to improve its performance in townships.
