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Geordin Hill-Lewis

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Alderman
Geordin Hill-Lewis
Hill-Lewis in 2021
Mayor of Cape Town
Incumbent
Assumed office
18 November 2021
DeputyEddie Andrews
Preceded byDan Plato
Deputy Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape
Incumbent
Assumed office
11 November 2023
Preceded byJP Smith (interim)
Member of the Cape Town City Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
9 November 2021
Shadow ministerial positions 2011–2021
Shadow Minister of Finance
In office
5 June 2019 – 9 November 2021
LeaderMmusi Maimane
John Steenhuisen
Preceded byDavid Maynier
Succeeded byDion George
Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry
In office
5 June 2014 – 1 June 2017
LeaderMmusi Maimane
Preceded byWilmot James
Succeeded byDean Macpherson
Shadow Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry
In office
1 February 2012 – 5 June 2014
LeaderLindiwe Mazibuko
Preceded byJacques Smalle
Succeeded byDean Macpherson
Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration
In office
August 2011 – 1 February 2012
LeaderLindiwe Mazibuko
Athol Trollip
Preceded byEna van Schalkwyk
Succeeded byDeetlefs du Toit
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
In office
19 August 2011 – 9 November 2021
Preceded byWillem Doman
Succeeded byChristopher Mario Fry
ConstituencyWestern Cape (2011–2019)
National (2019–2021)
Personal details
Born
Geordin Gwyn Hill-Lewis

(1986-12-31) 31 December 1986 (age 37)
Plettenberg Bay, Cape Province, South Africa
Political partyDemocratic Alliance (2004–present)
SpouseCarla
Children1
Residence(s)Edgemead, Cape Town, South Africa
EducationEdgemead High School
Alma materUniversity of Cape Town
University of London
Occupation
  • Politician
  • legislator

Geordin Gwyn Hill-Lewis (born 31 December 1986) is a South African politician who is the Mayor of Cape Town. A member of the Democratic Alliance, he was elected mayor in November 2021.

Hill-Lewis attended Edgemead High School, obtained an Honours degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from UCT, and a Masters in Finance specialising in Economic Policy from the University of London.

Hill-Lewis served in the National Assembly of South Africa for more than a decade from August 2011 until November 2021. He held multiple positions in the DA's Shadow Cabinet in the National Assembly. He served as the Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Service from August 2011 to February 2012, as the Shadow Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry from February 2012 to June 2014, as the Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry between June 2014 and June 2017, and as the Shadow Minister of Finance from June 2019 until he resigned to become mayor in November 2021. In November 2023, Hill-Lewis was elected unopposed as DA deputy provincial leader in the Western Cape.

Early life and education

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Hill-Lewis was born in Plettenberg Bay. His family moved to Cape Town when he was a young boy.[1] He was raised by a single mother, who is a nurse.[2] He attended Edgemead High School and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with an honours degree in politics, philosophy and economics from the University of Cape Town. From the University of London, he obtained a master's degree in economic policy.[3]

Political career

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Hill-Lewis became politically active during his high school years. During his studies at the University of Cape Town, he founded the Democratic Alliance Students’ Organization (DASO). He worked as Chief of Staff in the office of former Western Cape Premier Helen Zille.[citation needed]

Parliamentary career (2011–2021)

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Hill-Lewis during the Debate on the February 2019 State of the Nation Address

In August 2011, Hill-Lewis was appointed to the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, to fill Willem Doman's seat.[4] He was only twenty-four years and seven months old when he took office, which made him the youngest MP in the 4th Parliament (2009–2014).[5] He was appointed Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration by parliamentary leader Athol Trollip.[6]

In February 2012, newly elected DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko appointed Hill-Lewis to the shadow cabinet as the Shadow Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.[7] After the 2014 general election, he was unseated as the youngest MP by Yusuf Cassim, who was also from the DA.[8] Mmusi Maimane made him the Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry in June 2014.[9] Hill-Lewis was removed from the shadow cabinet in June 2017, as he was appointed as chief of staff in Maimane's office.[10]

Following the 2019 general election, Hill-Lewis became the Shadow Minister of Finance in the new shadow cabinet led by Maimane.[11] He remained in the position following the election of John Steenhuisen as DA leader in November 2020.[12] Hill-Lewis resigned from the National Assembly on 9 November 2021 in preparation for his move to the Cape Town city council.[13]

Mayor of Cape Town (2021–present)

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Campaign

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On 1 April 2021, Hill-Lewis announced that he had applied to be the DA's mayoral candidate for the City of Cape Town for the local government elections to be held later on in the year. He had been the DA's constituency head in George in the Southern Cape at that time.[14] He was up against incumbent mayor Dan Plato and the DA's provincial leader Bonginkosi Madikizela.[15] Madikizela later resigned as provincial leader and from all active party roles after being caught up in a qualifications scandal. Hill-Lewis was reported to be the frontrunner.[16]

DA leader John Steenhuisen announced on 23 August that Hill-Lewis would be the DA’s mayoral candidate in the 2021 local government elections.[17][18] Incumbent mayor Plato, who had also applied to be the DA's mayoral candidate, pledged to support Hill-Lewis's campaign.[19] On 29 August 2021, Hill-Lewis launched his campaign to become mayor in Bonteheuwel where he had attended his first DA meeting at ward councillor Theresa Thompson's home in June 2004.[20]

In September 2021, Hill-Lewis wrote to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure and former DA mayor, Patricia de Lille, calling on her to cancel the government's lease for the Acacia Park parliamentary village so that the City of Cape Town can buy the land from the government and release it for the development of affordable housing. De Lille responded by calling him "stupid", despite her past support for the proposal.[21][22] Hill-Lewis then led a demonstration outside the Department of Public Works building and handed over a memorandum.[23] Hill-Lewis has also identified the Air Force Base Ysterplaat and the SAS Wingfield for social housing.[24]

On 7 October 2021, Hill-Lewis announced his seven-point plan to end loadshedding in the City of Cape Town. His plan includes procuring electricity directly from Independent Power Producers and investing in the Steenbras hydroelectric plant.[25]

On 3 November, two days after the municipal elections on 1 November, the DA was projected to retain their majority in the City of Cape Town, winning 58% of the vote, a decline of 8% from the 66% the party achieved in the 2016 municipal elections. Hill-Lewis admitted in an interview with News24 journalist Jan Gerber that the DA performed much better than he expected.[26][27][28]

Tenure

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On 18 November 2021, the city council held its inaugural meeting after the election, at which Hill-Lewis was elected and sworn in as mayor.[26] Hill-Lewis was elected mayor with 141 out of 224 votes. The ANC's Noluthando Makasi received 46 votes while the Cape Independence Party's Jack Miller got only two votes. There were 20 abstentions and 15 spoilt ballots. At age 34, he is the second youngest mayor in the city's history[29] after David Graaff (1891–1892). On his first day in office, he inspected sewage issues in Khayelitsha and Phoenix.[30]

On 22 November, Hill-Lewis announced the formation of his 11-member mayoral committee to turn Cape Town into a "city of hope". Only six councillors out of the previous administration were retained. Long-serving members Ian Neilson, Xanthea Limberg, Marian Nieuwoudt, Phindile Maxiti and Sharon Cottle were not reappointed to the new mayoral committee.[31][32][33]

Hill-Lewis was elected unopposed as the DA's deputy provincial leader at the party's provincial congress on 11 November 2023.[34]

Personal life

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Hill-Lewis is married to Carla. They have one child.[35] They reside in Edgemead, one of the northern suburbs of Cape Town.[36] He is an avid rugby union fan.

References

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  1. ^ "Geordin Hill-Lewis, DA mayoral candidate: 'The Cape Independence movement is a huge compliment of the DA's track record'". BizNews.com. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Get to know Geordin Hill-Lewis MP". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  3. ^ Tembo, Theolin (23 August 2021). "DA announces Geordin Hill-Lewis as its candidate to replace Dan Plato as Cape Town mayor". Independent Online. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Hansard: Questions to the President, Jacob Zuma". Parliamentary Monitoring Group. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  5. ^ Mpofu, Michael (11 May 2012). "New batch of young bloods sworn in as MPs". IOL. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  6. ^ "DA: Statement by Geordin Hill-Lewis, Democratic Alliance shadow deputy minister of public service and administration, welcoming a move towards new anti-corruption legislation (15/09/2011)". www.polity.org.za. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  7. ^ "DA's Athol Trollip gets Mazibuko's old portfolio". City Press. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  8. ^ "DA sets record with youngest MP". www.iol.co.za.
  9. ^ "The DA's shadow cabinet - Mmusi Maimane - PARTY | Politicsweb". www.politicsweb.co.za.
  10. ^ "Changes to DA Shadow Cabinet". Democratic Alliance.
  11. ^ Gerber, Jan. "Here's the DA's 'shadow cabinet'". News24.
  12. ^ Mazzone, Natasha (5 December 2020). "DA announces new Shadow Cabinet that will bring Real Hope and Real Change". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  13. ^ "National Assembly Members (As on 12 November 2021)" (PDF). Parliamentary Monitoring Group. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  14. ^ Gerber, Jan. "DA's Hill-Lewis vying to become party's Cape Town mayoral candidate". News24. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  15. ^ Davis, Rebecca (7 April 2021). "ANALYSIS: Three DA heavyweights face off for Cape Town mayoralty". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Geordin Hill-Lewis touted as front runner to take over the reins in Cape Town". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  17. ^ "DA announces Geordin Hill-Lewis as its candidate to replace Dan Plato as Cape Town mayor". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Battle for Cape Town's mayorship begins as the DA and Good announce their picks". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  19. ^ Charles, Marvin. "Dan Plato pledges his support as DA selects Hill-Lewis as Cape Town mayoral candidate". News24. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  20. ^ Felix, Jason. "DA's Geordin Hill-Lewis launches his campaign to be mayor of Cape Town". News24. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  21. ^ "DA Cape Town mayoral candidate hits back at De Lille for calling his affordable housing proposals 'stupid'". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  22. ^ "'It is stupid': De Lille blasts DA - for a policy SHE supported while Mayor". The South African. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  23. ^ Brandt, Kevin. "DA in CT demands govt-owned land be released to build affordable housing". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  24. ^ "Ysterplaat, Wingfield eyed for social housing". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  25. ^ Gerber, Jan. "Elections 2021: Hill-Lewis wants to free Cape Town from Eskom and load shedding - here's his plan". News24. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  26. ^ a b Gerber, Jan (9 November 2021). "Mayor-elect Geordin Hill-Lewis wants to hit the Cape Town refresh button". News24. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  27. ^ "Hill-Lewis, to be Cape Town's youngest mayor, promises the 'DA difference'". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  28. ^ "DA's Geordin Hill-Lewis says he is 'very excited' to be City of Cape Town's next mayor". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  29. ^ "WATCH: Geordin Hill-Lewis officially becomes Cape Town's youngest mayor after council vote". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  30. ^ "Everything you missed of Geordin Hill-Lewis' first week in office as Cape Town mayor". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  31. ^ Payne, Suné (22 November 2021). "LOCAL GOVERNMENT: CAPE TOWN : New broom: Geordin Hill-Lewis announces new mayoral committee with a mix of fresh and familiar faces". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  32. ^ Brandt, Kevin. "CT Mayor Hill-Lewis announces his mayoral committee". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  33. ^ "Old DA faces chopped from Cape Town mayoral committee". www.polity.org.za. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  34. ^ Felix, Jason. "Tertius Simmers elected DA Western Cape leader, beating Madikizela". News24. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  35. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/weekend-argus-sunday-edition/20210905/281659668150509. Retrieved 10 October 2021 – via PressReader. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  36. ^ "YOUR VOTE | Getting to know Cape Town mayoral candidate Geordin Hill-Lewis". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Geordin Hill-Lewis.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Cape Town
2021 – present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Shadow Minister of Finance
2019–2021 		Succeeded by
Vacant
Preceded by Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry
2014–2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Shadow Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry
2012–2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Ena van Schalkwyk
 Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration
2011–2012 		Succeeded by
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