The Democratic Alliance (DA) held its final Western Cape election rally on Saturday, October 10, at the Erica Park Sports Complex in Belhar. Thousands of supporters attended, packing the grandstand and filling the field in front of the stage. The event featured a sea of blue, with DA banners lining the fences and marshals in orange and yellow bibs standing guard at the steel barriers. Many supporters wore blue bucket hats and T-shirts printed with "GHL for mayor," while a giant screen above the stage read "take our municipalities forward for all."
DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis, who is also Cape Town mayor, addressed the crowd, warning against coalition governments and the parties he believes would run the province's towns into the ground if given power. He mentioned the PA, ANC, GOOD, and EFF, stating that only the DA had the numbers to keep these parties out of councils across the Western Cape. Hill-Lewis cited the chaos that has resulted from coalition governments in many towns, saying that the people have paid the price for this chaos.
Supporters came from across the province, with many bussed in or dropped off by taxis, while others walked from their homes in Belhar and nearby areas. Brenda Matiwana, 57, of Strand, expressed her support for the DA, saying that the party works for her and her people. Errol Fillies, 46, walked to the rally from his home in Belhar, having previously been a member of the ANC and then the PA before joining the DA in 2024.
Audrey Williams, of Helderberg, believed that the DA would deliver for young people, stating that the party has brought change over the past almost two decades. Not everyone in DA colours came without complaint, however. John Commons, 65, wore a white shirt thrown open over a blue "Vote DA" T-shirt, expressing concerns that the party was leaving older people out in the cold.
Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube, one of the DA's deputy federal chairpersons, stated that the party had put everything into the campaign and that DA-run cities would continue to invest more in poor communities. Western Cape police oversight and community safety MEC Anroux Marais said the rally belonged to the activists who had knocked on doors for months, thanking them for their hard work.
DA councillor Angus McKenzie estimated that the crowd numbered around 8,000, saying that the turnout showed what the DA had done in Cape Town over the past five years. He pointed out that residents who said nothing had changed only had to look outside to see the improvements in services and infrastructure development.
The DA's Western Cape leader Tertius Simmers emphasized the importance of voter turnout, stating that it would decide the election. He urged voters to make their voices heard on November 4, saying that five to 10 minutes of their time over the next five years would determine the direction of local government.
Key points
- The DA's final Western Cape election rally drew a large crowd, with supporters expressing their enthusiasm for the party.
- Geordin Hill-Lewis warned against coalition governments, citing the chaos that has resulted from such arrangements in the past.
- The DA is seeking to maintain its majority in the Western Cape, with leader Tertius Simmers emphasizing the importance of voter turnout in determining the election outcome.
