'Protect progress': Hill-Lewis rallies DA base against coalitions

Federal DA leader and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis cautioned supporters against the risks of coalition governments, which he argued have caused instability across the province ahead of local elections on November 4. At the party's final Western Cape campaign rally in Belhar, Hill-Lewis urged supporters to defend the party's achievements in government and warned that the ANC, Patriotic Alliance (PA), GOOD, and EFF threatened progress in municipalities.

He highlighted the chaos caused by coalition governments in various towns and urged DA voters to ensure a strong turnout on election day, urging family and friends to vote for the DA.

Hill-Lewis emphasized that the DA was the best choice to maintain progress in municipalities it governs, stressing the need to protect the progress achieved so far. During the rally, supporters highlighted service delivery and accessibility as key reasons for their support of the DA. Brenda Matiwana, 57, from Strand, cited the DA's positive impact on her community, while Iris Murray, 74, from Beaufort West, praised the party's responsiveness to community needs. Murray, despite her daughters' membership in the PA, declared her unwavering loyalty to the DA.

Outside the rally, Richard Kruger from Elsies River expressed his decision not to support the DA, citing ongoing issues in the community. Kruger criticized the influence of DA propaganda and highlighted the failure of the national police in addressing violence and gangsterism. He pointed to the high number of deaths in Hanover Park that month and questioned the authorities' response.

Hill-Lewis addressed the issue of crime and safety, accusing the ANC-led SAPS of failure and vowing that the DA would continue pushing for improved investigative powers for municipal officers to ensure safer communities. He affirmed that the DA will strive to make towns and cities safer, emphasizing that the DA will not accept the shortcomings of the previous administration.