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 DA supporters in a mini-victory rally outside the IEC's provincial results centre in Century City.
Hill-Lewis expressed his gratitude to the people of Cape Town, stating that he was "overwhelmed" by the strong endorsement from the electorate. He 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. The DA leader also noted that the party's results in Cape Town's townships were likely to be the best they had ever had.
According to Hill-Lewis, the DA's win in Cape Town is significant not only for the city but also for the country as a whole. He stated that it was "safe to say" that Cape Town would be the only metro municipality with an outright majority winner, while the other seven metros, including Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and Nelson Mandela Bay, were likely to have coalition governments.
Hill-Lewis also predicted that the DA would likely be the dominant coalition negotiator in the other metros. He expressed his optimism that the DA's win in Cape Town would serve as a catalyst for progress in other parts of the country. The DA leader emphasized that the party's achievements 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, showed that the DA was hovering just above 60%, with the ANC at 11.9% and the Patriotic Alliance (PA) at 4.23%. The picture was unlikely to change, given the number of votes already declared. Hill-Lewis's claim of victory was met with loud cheers from DA members who braved the drizzling weather to celebrate their party's win.
The DA's win in Cape Town is seen as a significant achievement for Hill-Lewis, who is set to return as mayor. The party's increased support in areas such as Gugulethu and Khayelitsha is being viewed as a major breakthrough. Hill-Lewis's leadership and the DA's performance in Cape Town are likely to have implications for the party's national prospects.
The final results of the municipal polls are still awaited, but Hill-Lewis's claim of victory in Cape Town is a clear indication of the DA's strength in the city. The party's performance in the other metros will be closely watched, as coalition negotiations are expected to take place in the coming days.
Key points
- DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis claims victory in Cape Town mayoral election with over 60% of the votes.
- The DA's win in Cape Town is likely to be the only outright majority win in the country's metros.
- Hill-Lewis predicts that the DA will be the dominant coalition negotiator in the other metros.
