DA leader Hill-Lewis braces for fierce start to coalition talks in Gauteng
On the back of its twenty years in power in Cape Town, the DA had been hoping to entice residents in other metros to put it in charge.
Lindsay Dentlinger
DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis addresses party supporters at the ROC in Century City. Picture: Jared Moorgas/EWN
Jared Moorgas/EWN
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Geordin Hill-Lewis is bracing for the start of fierce coalition talks in Gauteng on Friday as the Cape Town metro looks set to be the only one that will have majority governance following this week’s municipal elections.
On the back of its 20 years in power in Cape Town, the DA had been hoping to entice residents in other metros to put it in charge.
After claiming an early victory in Cape Town on Thursday, Hill-Lewis said he will make a significant announcement at the national results centre in Midrand on Friday.
Hill-Lewis said he’s ready for another five years at the helm of Cape Town.
With another majority win on the cards, he said this is an endorsement of what the party has managed to achieve in the city to date.
“What we have been doing in Cape Town these last five years has never been just about Cape Town. It’s been about showing our country what is possible in South Africa, that despite our huge challenges, we can move forward. We can make progress.”
With the Cape Town metro sewn up, the DA is now shifting its focus to metros in other provinces.
“There will be a lot of furious negotiations in the coming days. I look forward to them, but for now the focus is on celebrating this big win here in Cape Town.”
Hill-Lewis said he’s not claiming Cape Town is a perfect city, but he has pledged to listen to residents and to tackle their concerns every day.