Who's Next in Line: The Contenders to Succeed Geordin Hill-Lewis
Cape Town, the Mother City, remains a Democratic Alliance (DA) stronghold and the centrepiece of Geordin Hill-Lewis’s political career. While Hill-Lewis has built a decorated political profile and has a promising future ahead, he is currently poised as the future federal leader of the DA come April 2026 when the party holds its elective conference. The pressing question is whether he will attempt to hold both positions—the party leadership and the mayoralty—or return to Parliament, leaving the mayor’s seat vacant. If he does return to Parliament, the next key question is: who will lead the city?
With the next local government elections expected in either November 2026 or February 2027, there are multiple contenders for the position. Hill-Lewis’s departure from city governance depends largely on the DA’s post-Steenhuisen direction. If he does return to Parliament, here are, in my view, the potential candidates for the mayoralty:
Eddie Andrews: Unlikely
Eddie Andrews, the current Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member (MMC) for Spatial Planning and Environment, may seem like a natural successor, but his chances are slim. If chosen, he risks suffering the same fate as Dan Plato: forgettable. The DA has a trend of appointing less memorable mayors after strong officeholders. Plato served between Helen Zille and Patricia de Lille, then again between de Lille and Hill-Lewis, yet his tenure is rarely referenced. Andrews lacks the political capital and stage presence necessary to lead a city like Cape Town. At best, he might serve as an interim mayor should Hill-Lewis depart before the elections, but his long-term prospects are weak, and his selection would likely be a poor strategic choice for the DA.
JP Smith: Likely but Not Guaranteed
Jean-Pierre "JP" Smith, the MMC for Safety and Security, was once the frontrunner for the position. However, the raid on his office in January 2025 has somewhat weakened his standing. Although no substantive allegations have emerged, the mere existence of the raid raises concerns. Smith claims he is the target of a smear campaign, potentially involving current or former South African Police Service (SAPS) officers. While he remains a strong candidate, the DA must weigh whether it can afford the controversy. Regardless of the truth behind the raid, selecting Smith would be a politically sensitive move. As head of Safety and Security, he operates in a volatile space, navigating Cape Town’s gang networks, taxi industry, and broader crime landscape. If elected, he would bring these entrenched battles with him into the mayor’s office, baggage the DA may not want to carry into the next local elections.
Xanthea Limberg: Potentially, but Unlikely
Xanthea Limberg has served on the City Council for over a decade and, until being implicated in the raid alongside JP Smith in January, had largely avoided scandal. Her profile remains relatively low, but her position as a coloured woman could work in her favour. With coloured residents making up 42.4% of Cape Town’s population and the rise of parties like the Patriotic Alliance and National Coloured Congress, the DA may see the advantage in choosing a familiar face from the community. However, Limberg’s public recognition is minimal compared to Smith, who has become a Cape Town household name. If selected, pending the outcome of the investigation, she would require the full backing of the DA’s media machinery to raise her profile.
Roberto Quintas: A Strong Contender
Rob Quintas, the MMC for Urban Mobility, has served on several key committees, including Safety and Social Services, Environment and Spatial Planning, and the Homelessness Agency. An openly gay politician, his appointment would signal a shift in DA leadership dynamics. The DA publicly downplays identity politics, but selecting the first openly gay mayor of a major metro would be a milestone for the party. Given the popularity of Chris Pappas in uMngeni Local Municipality leading up to the 2024 elections, the DA may attempt to replicate that success. Beyond his identity, Quintas is well-qualified, and Cape Town’s LGBTQ+ community could see his appointment as a progressive move. Given the current leadership structure with Steenhuisen as federal leader, Hill-Lewis as mayor, and Alan Winde as Western Cape Premier, the DA is likely to push for greater diversity in its governance positions post-Steenhuisen. If Hill-Lewis steps down, the likelihood of replacing him with another straight white man is low.
Zahid Badroodien: Another Viable Candidate
Dr Zahid Badroodien has quietly built an impressive political résumé. He is a Stellenbosch University graduate with a medical degree and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Edinburgh. He has served as Deputy Chairperson of the Communities Development Portfolio Committee, MMC for Community Services and Health, and currently, MMC for Water and Sanitation. Given South Africa’s worsening water crisis, particularly in Gauteng municipalities, Badroodien could campaign effectively on Cape Town’s relative water stability. If the DA wants a pragmatic, technocratic candidate, he is a strong option.
At large, Cape Town DA politics is centred on the narrative of "Yes, some things may be bad, but at least you are not in Johannesburg where things are worse." This strategy plays to Badroodien’s strengths, as he can position himself as the face of competent governance in comparison to ANC-led municipalities. However, his public profile remains modest, and he would require a major visibility push from the DA to be a viable mayoral contender.
The Uncertain Future of Cape Town’s Mayoralty
Whether Hill-Lewis remains for a second term is still to be determined, but his successor will likely be someone who cements his legacy. The DA’s choice of mayor will signal its broader strategy heading into the 2026 local government elections, whether it prioritises continuity, diversity, or a fresh political approach. Either way, Cape Town’s leadership transition will be a defining moment for the party’s future in the post-John era.