Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has described the party’s by-election victory in Ward 28 in Evaton, Gauteng, as a significant turning point in South African politics.The DA candidate, Maki Emily Tshabalala, secured 32.

08% of the vote, overturning a ward previously dominated by the African National Congress (ANC), which had won over 50% there in the 2021 local government elections.Voter turnout in the by-election stood at 35.79%.

Hill-Lewis emphasised the symbolic importance of the result, noting that the DA had previously received only about 1% of the vote in the same community.He framed the outcome as evidence that political change is possible even in areas long regarded as ANC strongholds.According to him, the result has unsettled political opponents and could signal broader shifts in voter sentiment across Gauteng townships.

He also linked the ANC’s recent decision to remove Emfuleni mayor Sipho Radebe to the by-election outcome, suggesting it reflected internal pressure and governance concerns within the municipality.Emfuleni has faced ongoing criticism for poor service delivery, which Hill-Lewis argued contributed to voter dissatisfaction.

Using the victory as a campaign platform, Hill-Lewis encouraged voter registration ahead of upcoming local government elections and promoted the DA’s message of service delivery-focused governance.He highlighted everyday issues such as road maintenance, water access, and street lighting as key priorities for voters.In addition, he called for the return of former Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink, positioning him as a solution to the city’s infrastructure challenges.Hill-Lewis also criticised coalition governments, arguing that instability often results in poor service delivery.Overall, the DA is presenting the Evaton result as momentum for expanding its support base in urban townships.