DA Leadership Showdown: Hill-Lewis Vs Dyonase Battle For Top Job At Crucial Congress

The Democratic Alliance (DA) enters a decisive moment as delegates gather for day two of its Federal Congress at the Gallagher Convention Centre.

The party is set to elect its new Federal Leader, with Geordin Hill-Lewis and Sibusiso Dyonase going head-to-head for the top position.

Cape Town councillor Elton Jansen voiced his support for Hill-Lewis, saying: “He is a young, dynamic leader who is a people person.”

Candidates Outline Competing Visions for DA’s Future

Addressing delegates, Dyonase made it clear that the contest goes beyond personality.

“I stand here to ask for your vote as federal leader of the Democratic Alliance that we all love and are custodians of. As your leader, my commitment to ensure that South Africans unite behind the Democratic Alliance is to strengthen internal democracy by empowering branches through inclusive representation to influence internal policy. Capacity building, through investing in continuous training and development for activists and members to improve efficiency and professionalism.”

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Meanwhile, Hill-Lewis emphasised the need for the party to connect more deeply with voters.

“Our task now is to become a political home for the millions of South Africans who, like us, and feel warm towards us, but don’t quite yet feel they can lend us their vote. We will not do that by simply repeating we are better than the rest,” he said.

He argued that while the party’s governance record remains strong, it must show greater empathy towards citizens facing economic hardship.

Tribute to John Steenhuisen and DA’s Growth Journey

Delegates also paid tribute to outgoing Federal Leader John Steenhuisen, who reflected on his tenure and the party’s progress.

“The party that we inherited in 2019 was on its knees, polling at 16%, divided and riven by a crisis of confidence. The media confidently proclaimed the death of the DA. But together, the people in this room refused to accept decline as our destiny. And as that famous saying goes, ‘kyk hoe lyk ons nou,’ (Look how we look now).”

He added: “As I so often said on the campaign trail, there was nothing wrong with the DA that couldn’t be fixed with everything right with the DA. And together we set out to prove it by navigating our party through the unprecedented turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic and into a local government election where we got back to the business of growth.”

Steenhuisen highlighted the party’s performance in the 2024 general elections, where it secured 21.81% of the vote, and pointed to growing support.

“Our presence in this hall today is a living testament to the spectacular success of that mission. Not only is the blue machine stronger and healthier than ever, but we are now routinely polling close to 30%, but for the first time in South Africa’s history, and for the first time in our party, the DA now co-governs the Republic of South Africa.”

Final Push as Delegates Prepare to Vote

As voting gets underway, both candidates agree on one key priority — expanding the party’s reach.

Dyonase urged members to stay focused on internal renewal, saying: “Clearly this shows that we are architects for clean governance; we don’t just promise a better life. We build it.”

He also warned against being distracted by “negative external perceptions”.

With ballots set to be cast, the outcome will determine who leads the DA for the next three years — and how the party positions itself as a national contender.