Mayor Dan Plato se bek is uit after he failed to make the cut as the DA’s mayoral candidate for the City of Cape Town.
He was pipped to the post by Geordin Hill-Lewis, who was nominated as the DA’s choice to contest the upcoming local government elections, DA leader John Steenhuisen announced.
At just 34 years old, Hill-Lewis, currently the DA Shadow Minister of Finance, could become Cape Town’s youngest mayor ever if elected.
David Bloomberg became the youngest mayor of Cape Town in 1973 at the age of 41.
Hill-Lewis was seen as a front-runner after former DA provincial leader Bonginkosi Madikizela resigned, following allegations that he lied in his CV about having a university degree.
Hill-Lewis said he was ready to tackle the city’s biggest problems: “No matter where you live, every Capetonian must live in a place that is safe, clean and with access to the services that everyone needs for dignity.”
Elected as an MP in 2011, Hill-Lewis, a former DA Chief of Staff, served on committees for Public Service and Administration, as well as Trade and Industry and Finance.
On his parliamentary profile he counts Helen Zille, Tony Leon, Nelson Mandela, Tony Blair, and Bill Clinton among his political role models.
Hill-Lewis matriculated from Edgemead High School and holds a Masters in Economic Policy: Finance degree from the University of London, and two economics degrees from the University of Cape Town.
Steenhuisen said the DA spent a year on its candidate selection process.
Refiloe Nt’sekhe is the DA’s mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni, current Tshwane mayor Randall Williams will run again while Mpho Phalatse is the candidate for Joburg.
In Nelson Mandela Bay, Nqaba Banga was nominated.