The Mayor of Cape Town is the head of the local government of Cape Town, South Africa; currently that government takes the form of the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality. In the past, the position of Mayor has varied between that of an executive mayor actively governing the city and that of a figurehead mayor with a mostly ceremonial role.
Geordin Hill-Lewis, the current Mayor of Cape Town.
Geordin Gwyn Hill-Lewis: A Profile
Geordin Gwyn Hill-Lewis (born 31 December 1986) is a South African politician who is the current Mayor of Cape Town. A member of the Democratic Alliance, he was elected mayor in November 2021.
Early Life and Education
Hill-Lewis was born in Plettenberg Bay. His family moved to Cape Town when he was a young boy. He was raised by a single mother, who is a nurse. 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. He also holds a Masters in Finance specialising in Economic Policy from London University.
Political Career
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). 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.
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Some of the positions Hill-Lewis held include:
- Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration
Election as Mayor
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 was up against incumbent mayor Dan Plato and the DA's provincial leader Bonginkosi Madikizela. Madikizela later resigned as provincial leader and from all active party roles after being caught up in a qualifications scandal.
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. 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.
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 after David Graaff (1891-1892).
Key Initiatives and Challenges
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.
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On 7 October 2021, Hill-Lewis announced his seven-point plan to end loadshedding in the City of Cape Town. 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.
Some of the tangible changes that Hill-Lewis has brought about include:
- Fixing up the city's 38 magnificent public swimming pools and 19 coastal tidal pools, which had been closed to the public due to lack of maintenance.
In May 2025, Hill-Lewis was shown to be broadly popular amongst his fellow Council members, when he won a motion of no confidence by a significant margin (138 against vs 46 in favor). The motion was tabled by single-issue opposition party the National Coloured Congress, and was seen to be a spiteful endeavor to detract from an ongoing court case the City has against the NCC's leader, Fadiel Adams, for racist remarks he made.
Hill-Lewis has also addressed concerns about digital nomads driving up rent in the inner city, and is negotiating to take control of the trains to get commuters back on the rails. He is also working on urban upliftment.
Tourism is one of the main economic drivers of Cape Town. The city is desperate to keep growing its tourism numbers. Cape Town currently has the lowest unemployment figure in South Africa, but it’s still 20 per cent, so the most important priority in the government now is to get more people out of poverty and into employment.
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Hill-Lewis believes that Cape Town can be a model for the success of South Africa.
The Mayor's Guide to Cape Town
The Mayor of Cape Town shares his favorite ways to eat, chill and explore in the Mother City:
- Buffels Bay Beach, Cape Point Nature Reserve: Offers near-total isolation in a wild natural setting.
- The Pipe Track, Table Mountain: A popular and relatively easy walking route with pristine fynbos.
- Constantia Wine Valley: A thriving, historic wine valley with incredible wines, fantastic food, and beautiful vistas. Some favorites are Beau Constantia, Constantia Glen, Klein Constantia and Buitenverwachting.
- Friends Who Volley: A social beach volleyball group on Clifton 1st beach every Tuesday evening.
- Deluxe Coffeeworks: A coffee shop that only sells coffee and still or sparkling water.
- Noordhoek: A little beach town with an old-world village feel.
- The Fat Butcher: A steak restaurant in Stellenbosch.
- La Colombe: A fine dining restaurant that is a serial winner of the best restaurant in South Africa.
- Cosy Corner, Golden Dish or Mariam’s Kitchen: Places to try the most famous and local fast food meal: the gatsby.
- Green Point Urban Park: A place to jog, picnic, play games, walk with kids, or relax in the shade.
- Tutu Legacy Foundation: A museum with an exhibit covering the life and times of Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
- Sunday Open Streets on Bree: Every Sunday during the summer months, Bree Street is closed to traffic and fills up with people playing games, skateboarding, reading, or just walking with their kids and friends.
These locations highlight the diverse attractions within and around Cape Town, showcasing its natural beauty, culinary delights, and cultural experiences.
Cape Town's diverse landscape.
The reason why Hill-Lewis loves Cape Town is its connection to the outdoors and wild spaces. Cape Town has a magnificent national park in the heart of the city that’s the size of Liechtenstein. There is seamless connection and accessibility to nature, with an amazing quality of life. It’s healthy for the mind, body and soul.
Here’s a summary of Key Facts about Geordin Hill-Lewis:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Geordin Gwyn Hill-Lewis |
| Date of Birth | 31 December 1986 |
| Place of Birth | Plettenberg Bay, South Africa |
| Education | Bachelor of Commerce, Honours in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (University of Cape Town), Masters in Finance specializing in Economic Policy (London University) |
| Political Party | Democratic Alliance (DA) |
| Current Role | Mayor of Cape Town |
| Previous Positions | Member of the National Assembly of South Africa (August 2011 - November 2021), Various positions in DA's Shadow Cabinet |
| Key Initiatives | Ending loadshedding, affordable housing, tourism growth, poverty reduction |
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis 100 DAYS IN OFFICE
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