CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE — The aftermath of the 2026 Local Government Elections has revealed a significantly altered political landscape in South Africa, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) celebrating unprecedented breakthroughs in township communities while characterizing the results as a catastrophic defeat for the ANC.
Geordin Hill-Lewis, the DA federal leader and Mayor of Cape Town, described the election outcomes as a historic watershed moment for the party. According to Hill-Lewis, the DA’s campaign successfully tapped into a deep dissatisfaction among millions of South Africans who are frustrated by failing municipal services.
“Our campaign focused on a really simple message about getting towns and cities working,” Hill-Lewis explained. He noted that voters were not asking for the moon, but rather demanding basic functional services such as fixed roads, working streetlights, and clean, reliable water. He attributed the party’s success to a combination of “push factors”—the collapsed state of many municipalities—and “pull factors,” namely the DA’s established track record of delivering these basic services.
Breaking the Demographic Glass Ceiling
Perhaps the most significant takeaway from the 2026 Local Government Elections for the DA was its surge in support among black South Africans. Hill-Lewis noted that the party historically relied on just 3% to 5% support from black communities. However, in this election cycle, the DA has at least doubled, and in many areas tripled or quadrupled, that figure.
“We have broken a glass ceiling,” Hill-Lewis stated, highlighting that in Ekurhuleni, there is hardly a township where the party secured less than 15% to 20% of the vote. Similarly, the DA recorded its best-ever results in Cape Town’s townships, including Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Nyanga, and Langa.
Hill-Lewis emphasized that the DA is now a mainstream party in every community, transcending racial lines. “It doesn’t matter if you are black or white or Indian or coloured. The DA is there, and we have big support there. We are everywhere,” he said, positioning the party as the most diverse “broad church” in the country.
ANC Decline and the Road to 2029
While the DA celebrated its renewal project’s success, Hill-Lewis was blunt in his assessment of the ANC’s performance, calling the 2026 Local Government Elections a “catastrophe” for the ruling party. He noted that while the DA has taken a significant step forward toward its mission of becoming the largest party nationally by 2029, the gap remains. Despite the ANC’s shocking decline, the two parties are still separated by nearly six percentage points nationally.
Looking ahead to the 2029 general elections, Hill-Lewis acknowledged that many South Africans are still unfamiliar with him personally. He committed to spending the coming years traveling to every corner of the country to showcase a “fresher, younger, more diverse DA” capable of leading the nation.
Navigating Coalition Politics and Ego
With the election results now finalized, the focus shifts to coalition negotiations. Hill-Lewis urged political leaders to move past the sharp elbows and personality politics of the campaign trail. He specifically addressed recent public friction, such as ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba stating he would not work with former DA leader Helen Zille. Zille had frequently used a campaign message urging voters to support the DA’s work even if they did not personally like her.
Hill-Lewis called on all leaders to rise above ego issues and act maturely for the sake of the country’s municipalities. When asked about potential coalition partners, he maintained an open-door policy, stating the DA is willing to engage in dialogue with any political party, including the MK Party and the SACP.
“I don’t think it’s a healthy practice to say we are not even prepared to talk,” Hill-Lewis concluded. “Let’s start those discussions and see where they go. If we decide later that this is not going to work out, then so be it.”
