Geordin Hill-Lewis, seeking a second term as Cape Town mayor, has centred his campaign on promises of job creation, safer streets, improved basic services, and cleaner public spaces. Speaking during his final council address on 20 August 2026, he outlined achievements from his current term and plans for the future if the Democratic Alliance (DA) retains control.
Since taking office in November 2021, Hill-Lewis highlighted that the city created approximately 418,000 jobs, contributing about half of the metropolitan area’s job growth nationally. The administration also trained and deployed 1,380 new law enforcement and metro police officers to bolster safety.
“We are going to be even more ruthless in slashing red tape so that we can create hundreds of thousands more new jobs,” Hill-Lewis said during the council meeting. He further pledged to create at least 500,000 additional jobs over the next five years if re-elected, reinforcing the DA’s campaign platform aimed at economic growth and security.
The campaign promotes stronger policing with expanded metro police capacity, reliable and affordable basic services, including electricity and water, more affordable housing by releasing city-owned land, and improvements to public infrastructure. City statements credit significant investment in water and sanitation, roads, electricity, and public facilities throughout the current term.
Hill-Lewis also stressed the importance of reducing electricity costs and continuing the fight for increased policing powers to enhance safety across the city. “We’ve got to get cheaper electricity. We’ve got to carry on fighting for more policing powers to make our city safer. We’ve got to carry on releasing city-owned land for more housing projects to get people into affordable accommodation,” he told reporters.
These pledges are especially relevant to Cape Flats communities, where improved policing, housing, roads, sanitation, and public space maintenance directly impact quality of life and economic opportunities. Increased law enforcement capacity could address ongoing safety concerns in areas plagued by crime, while infrastructure improvements aim to support a growing population.
Independent sources confirm the DA’s emphasis on job creation, safety, and service delivery as central to Hill-Lewis’s re-election strategy. While some figures, such as an exact claim of over 580,000 new jobs during the term, remain unverified by multiple sources and should be treated cautiously, overall data supports Cape Town’s strong performance relative to other metros.
The mayor’s final address and related campaign materials outline a vision tied closely to pragmatic investments and expanded governance capabilities. If the DA’s position is maintained after the 2026 local government elections, these promises will shape Cape Town’s development over the next five years.
CapeFlats.co.za will monitor the campaign’s progress and report on election outcomes and subsequent delivery on these commitments.