Insider says challengers to Hill-Lewis as DA leader will face consequences

By Simon Nare

Anyone who opposes Geordin Hill-Lewis at the Democratic Alliance’s leadership congress in April will face “consequences”, a DA insider has claimed, as the party allegedly moves towards electing the Cape Town mayor unopposed as its federal leader.

Current federal leader John Steenhuisen announced last week that he will not seek re-election, saying he needed to guide the country through the Foot-and-Mouth disease crisis in his capacity as minister of agriculture, opening the way for “blue-eyed boy” Hill-Lewis to take the reins.

ALSO READ: Ekurhuleni EFF lays complaint against ActionSA mayoral candidate Khumalo

The source told Inside Politics that the Government of National Unity “star performer” and Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube – previously the DA chief whip in parliament — has been “stuck between a rock and a hard place” because she harbours ambitions for the leadership role, but does not want to upset the hierarchy by