{
  "id": 13436345,
  "title": "Keep rivals out of our councils, Hill-Lewis tells DA’s final Western Cape rally",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/keep-rivals-out-of-our-councils-hill-lewis-tells-das-final-western",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T14:27:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/news/politics/2026-10-10-keep-rivals-out-of-our-councils-hill-lewis-tells-das-final-western-cape-rally/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Thousands of DA supporters rallied in Belhar on Saturday, belting out anthems and chanting slogans in support of Geordin Hill-Lewis, the party's leader. Hill-Lewis warned that rival parties - the PA, ANC, GOOD and EFF - would run the province's towns into the ground if given power. The rally featured blue-clad supporters, banners, and a giant screen proclaiming \"take our municipalities forward for all\". Hill-Lewis, who is also Cape Town mayor, stated that only the DA has the numbers to keep the other parties out of councils. Supporters traveled from across the province, some bussed in or dropped off by taxis, while others walked from nearby areas. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube and Western Cape Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais attended the rally, with Gwarube praising the party's investment in poor communities and Marais thanking the activists for their efforts. DA councillor Angus McKenzie claimed the turnout demonstrated the party's positive impact on Cape Town over the past five years, citing improved services and infrastructure. DA Western Cape leader Tertius Simmers urged voters to decide the election in the coming 25 days, emphasizing the importance of voter turnout. Cape Town Metro Chair JP Smith expressed confidence in the DA's ability to maintain its majority in the metro, noting that the ANC is divided and several ANC wards are within reach. Smith highlighted the ongoing SAPS staffing issues and the need for convictions to ensure public safety.",
  "summary": "DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has warned that Western Cape towns have already paid the price for coalition chaos, telling the party’s final rally in Belhar that the PA, ANC, GOOD and EFF cannot be trusted with power.",
  "key_points": [
    "DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis warns rivals will ruin province's towns",
    "Basic Education Minister praises DA's investment in poor communities",
    "Cape Town Metro Chair confident in DA's majority, notes ANC's divisions"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}