Geordin Hill-Lewis
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has served the people of Cape Town as an Hill-Lewis served in the National Assembly of South Africa for more than a decade. He held multiple positions in the DA's Shadow Cabinet in the National Assembly. He served as the Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Service, as the Shadow Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry and the Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry.
He gave voice to key areas such as releasing public land for housing, taking over the rail network, and releasing the city from Eskom's shackles.
Hill-Lewis was born (born 31 December 1986) in Plettenberg Bay. His family moved to Cape Town when he was a young boy. He was raised by a single mother, who is a nurse. He attended Edgemead High School and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree as well as an honours degree in politics, philosophy and economics from the University of Cape Town. From the University of London, he obtained a master's degree in economic policy.
Hill-Lewis is married to Carla and they have one child
He served in the National Assembly of South Africa for more than a decade from August 2011 until November 2021. He held multiple positions in the DA's Shadow Cabinet in the National Assembly. He served as the Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Service from August 2011 to February 2012, as the Shadow Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry from February 2012 to June 2014, as the Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry between June 2014 and June 2017, and as the Shadow Minister of Finance from June 2019 until he resigned to become mayor in November 2021.
Parliamentary career (2011–2021)
In August 2011, Hill-Lewis was appointed to the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, to fill Willem Doman's seat. He was only twenty-four years and seven months old when he took office, which made him the youngest MP in the 4th Parliament (2009–2014).
He was appointed Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration by parliamentary leader Athol Trollip.
In February 2012, newly elected DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko appointed Hill-Lewis to the shadow cabinet as the Shadow Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.
After the 2014 general election, he was unseated as the youngest MP by Yusuf Cassim, who was also from the DA. Mmusi Maimane made him the Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry in June 2014. Hill-Lewis was removed from the shadow cabinet in June 2017, as he was appointed as chief of staff in Maimane's office.
Following the 2019 general election, Hill-Lewis became the Shadow Minister of Finance in the new shadow cabinet led by Maimane. He remained in the position following the election of John Steenhuisen as DA leader.
Hill-Lewis resigned from the National Assembly on 9 November 2021 in preparation in preparation for his move to the Cape Town city council, and mayor of Cape Town since then.
Lewis' soul mate and life partner
Hill-Lewis met his wife, Carla, while at school, and the couple have been together ever since.
‘Carla grew up in Cape Town and has been her whole life, living in the CBD, Tamboerskloof and now Edgemead.’
‘She is a clothing designer by qualification but is no longer working in design.’
‘She did it until we had our daughter, Ava, seven years ago. However, it remains her passion.’
‘Since Ava was born, our lives have been very much focussed on her.’
In the next part of the series on the mayor, we delve deeper into how Hill-Lewis spends his spare time, the highlight of his week, his love of books, and his passion for pets.
Geordin on everyday life
‘The personal highlight of my week are those rare occasions when I’m able to get home to have dinner, spend the evening with my family and put my daughter to bed,’ he said in the living room of his home in Edgemead.
‘I also have an incredible bookshelf and love finding time to read and relax.’
‘Apart from books I also enjoy reading papers and international magazines. I try to read as much and as widely as I can and find it really rewarding.’
‘My favourite feature of the home is the bookshelf in my reading room. It’s my happy place. I also often read in bed.’
Hill-Lewis also enjoys gardening when he has time to do so and just loves being at home in general.
‘I also really enjoy going to one of Cape Town and South Africa’s beautiful national parks and find this extremely therapeutic.’
However, opportunities to curl up with a good book or dirty his hands in the garden are few and far between, as the mayor admitted that he seldom has time for the most important meal of the day.
‘I often don’t have time to eat breakfast in the morning so I usually just start my day with a cup of coffee.’
‘I might even just steal a little bit of Oatees from my daughter, Ava.’
‘On Saturday mornings, I have a tradition where I make the family pancakes. There are still one or two left if anyone would like one,’ he offers.
‘I try to do this every Saturday but unfortunately, sometimes I can’t because I have to go out to do city work.’
Pancakes and parenting are but some of Hill-Lewis’ passions but the mayor said that he also has a soft spot for animals. He encouraged the public to help and protect their furry friends.
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