---
title: "Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says GNU still on track, despite Expropriation Act fracas"
description: "Days after a fallout triggered by the signing into law of the Expropriation Act, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis is still confident that the GNU will survive until 2027."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "POLITICS"
author: "Suné Payne"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/sune-payne/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-28-cape-town-mayor-geordin-hill-lewis-says-gnu-still-on-track-despite-expropriation-act-fracas/"
published: "2025-01-28T20:31:06"
updated: "2025-01-28T21:02:52"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 318
---

# Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says GNU still on track, despite Expropriation Act fracas

> Days after a fallout triggered by the signing into law of the Expropriation Act, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis is still confident that the GNU will survive until 2027.

By Suné Payne · Published 28 January 2025, 22:31 SAST · Updated 28 January 2025, 23:02 SAST

## Key points
- Cape Town's DA mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis stands behind his declaration that the Government of National Unity will endure the next two years, despite growing tension among its members.
- Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis predicts the Government of National Unity (GNU) will endure for at least two more years until the ANC's elective congress in 2027.
- Hill-Lewis cites existing goodwill within the GNU but acknowledges uncertainty beyond 2027 due to potential ANC factionalism.
- Tensions within the GNU have escalated following President Ramaphosa's signing of the Expropriation Act without prior consultation with party leaders.
- DA leader John Steenhuisen is set to meet with Ramaphosa to address the growing rift, amid accusations of betrayal from Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie.

## Content

Last week, Cape Town Democratic Alliance mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis told the Cape Town Press Club that the Government of National Unity (GNU) would survive for at least the next two years.

He predicted that the GNU, comprising 10 parties, the second largest of which is the DA, would “survive at least the next two years” until the African National Congress – the largest party in the GNU – had its elective congress in 2027.

“I think that there is enough goodwill and commitment inside the GNU at the moment to at least see it through until then,” Hill-Lewis said.

“After that, I’m not prepared to make any firm prediction, all bets are off after that because so much depends on who is ascendant at that conference.” He said this was because of anti-GNU sentiment within parts of the ANC.

**Read more:**[Geordin Hill-Lewis – I won’t contest DA leadership against ‘dear friend’ John Steenhuisen](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-23-geordin-hill-lewis-i-wont-contest-da-leadership-against-dear-friend-john-steenhuisen/)

On Tuesday, his office confirmed to Daily Maverick that his comments still stood, despite widening rifts over the past weekend after GNU party leaders said they were not informed before President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Act into law.

This upset several GNU party leaders, including DA leader John Steenhuisen who declared a dispute in terms of the founding agreement of the 10-party power-sharing agreement.

**Read more:**[GNU tension erupts after Steenhuisen seeks urgent dialogue over Ramaphosa’s signing of Expropriation Bill](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-25-tensions-rise-in-gnu-john-steenhuisen-calls-for-urgent-dialogue-following-expropriation-act-signing/)

As Daily Maverick’s Ferial Haffajee reported, Steenhuisen and Ramaphosa were to meet over the dispute on Tuesday evening.

**Read more:**[DA leader Steenhuisen to meet Ramaphosa tonight to iron out GNU tensions](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-28-steenhuisen-to-meet-ramaphosa-tonight-to-iron-out-gnu-tensions/?dm_source=dm_block_grid&dm_medium=card_link&dm_campaign=main)

Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie, who serves as the country’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, told his party’s supporters on Saturday that [President Ramaphosa had “stabbed us in the back”](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-26-mckenzie-on-expropriation-act-president-stabbed-us-in-the-back/) by not informing GNU leaders ahead of signing the Act into law. **DM**

[Media on Daily Maverick: "If you were President for a day"](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-28-cape-town-mayor-geordin-hill-lewis-says-gnu-still-on-track-despite-expropriation-act-fracas/)