In his first major address since assuming the leadership of the DA, Geordin Hill-Lewis has declared that South Africa has entered a "second transition" that demands a “fundamentally new type of political movement”.

Speaking in Sandton on Thursday, Hill-Lewis called for an “honest, unvarnished assessment” of post-1994 politics.

He framed the upcoming era as a critical shift away from the apartheid-era legacy of "organised dependency" and subjecthood, urging a return to the collective, self-determined future South Africans chose in the 1990s.

Addressing the practical question of why the DA governs alongside the ANC, Hill-Lewis defended the Government of National Unity (GNU) as the only viable choice to block “destructive populists”.

However, he warned that the ANC must accept that it did not win an outright mandate, but rather a mandate to negotiate and compromise.

"The alternative was to allow destructive populists into power," Hill-Lewis stated. “We could not, and will never allow that. We were also determined to show South Africa what the DA can do in government, and we have had real successes in putting the citizen at the centre of policymaking.”

While acknowledging that the DA has not always got everything right, he drew a sharp line on accountability.

“Our worth isn't measured by the mistakes we make – it is measured by how quickly we identify and correct them. Under my leadership, the DA will not tolerate poor performance. Because my first loyalty is to the Constitution and to the citizens of this country.”

Hill-Lewis issued a stern warning to his coalition partners, asserting that the ANC must accept that it no longer holds an exclusive mandate to govern. The 2024 election, he argued, was a mandate to negotiate, compromise, and share decision-making.

“On business licensing, on industrial strategy, on the review of BEE – the ANC has proceeded as though the election result meant nothing. We will not accept that," he warned.

Moving forward, Hill-Lewis announced that the DA will not remain silent when the ANC refuses to consult. The party intends to make its internal positions within the GNU fully public, he added.

“This is not meant as a threat," he clarified. "It is a matter of basic respect for democracy. We have a mandate from the citizens who voted for us, and we are honour-bound to tell them what we are doing with their trust.”

Explaining his decision to remain outside the national cabinet, Hill-Lewis emphasised his complete independence from the State executive.

“I chose to remain outside the Government of National Unity for the simple reason of independence. I do not owe my position to President Cyril Ramaphosa. I owe it to the millions of people who voted for us and to the millions who have not yet voted for us."

He spoke candidly about the emotional weight of encountering black voters who he said appreciate the DA's governance but are not yet ready to cast their vote for the party.

“This cuts me deep," Hill-Lewis admitted. "But it also inspires me to do better. To build a truly citizen-centred party in which every person feels welcome – no matter where they come from, the colour of their skin or the language they speak. A party that is truly for all the people.”

Looking ahead, the DA leader expressed deep optimism about a growing class of young South Africans who reject State dependency.

"The DA, under my leadership, will be a party for them," he promised. "We want you to thrive, for your lives to be better, and we will be the party of your flourishing."

Hill-Lewis spoke about an audacious goal: leveraging this new approach to transform the DA into the largest political party in South Africa and the leader of a future national coalition government.

“I know that this is an ambitious goal. But I believe we can achieve it if we build the right kind of party... But none of that matters if we do not move with the urgency that this moment demands. Before I close, I want to say something that keeps me up at night: we are running out of time,” he said.