WILDERNESS, Western Cape — Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has officially concluded his three-day DA Garden Route campaign, culminating in a community-focused meeting in Wilderness near George. The final stop underscores the party’s strategic push to secure an outright majority in the George municipality, aiming to move away from the coalition governance that has defined its recent term.
In the 2021 local government elections, the DA secured 46.4 percent of the vote in George, claiming 26 of the municipality’s 55 council seats. Since that election, the party has governed the area through a coalition with the FF Plus and the ACDP. Over the past three days, Hill-Lewis visited Mossel Bay, George, and Knysna, highlighting the DA’s governing record and outlining its practical policy plans for the next term.
During the Wilderness community meeting, residents voiced pressing local concerns, particularly the deteriorating condition of rural roads and the urgent need to better support vulnerable populations. Community members emphasized the severe safety risks posed by speeding vehicles, describing certain local roads as “racetracks.” Residents warned that this reckless driving endangers children who play outside and threatens local wildlife, noting that animals such as monkeys and chickens are frequently killed, with fears that a child could be next.
Beyond municipal service delivery, attendees also stressed the importance of community-led solutions. One resident emphasized that South Africans must “start taking that shovel in the hand” and take proactive steps to resolve local issues. The sentiment reflected a desire for citizens to stop merely labeling problems and waiting for top-down government intervention, and instead take ownership of solutions where they have the opportunity to do so.
Addressing the crowd, Geordin Hill-Lewis emphasized that the DA is committed to reaching all communities regardless of their background, focusing on the practical, day-to-day issues that affect citizens’ lives. He highlighted the party’s extensive footprint across the region, spanning from Hornlee and Pacaltsdorp to George proper, Sedgefield, Wilderness, and the townships in Mossel Bay.
“The DA is out across the country everywhere, and we are the only party that’s even trying to do that,” Hill-Lewis stated. He criticized other political parties in South Africa for being “unashamed and unapologetic about the fact that they only serve one community,” reaffirming the DA’s goal to be a party for all people by actively working in every neighborhood.
By focusing on tangible local issues like road safety and community empowerment, the DA hopes to build on its existing support in the Garden Route and achieve a decisive, independent mandate in George.
