Meet the mayor: Part 1/5
While ensuring the Mother City’s prosperity remains high on his list of priorities, family comes first for Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
Also read: Watch: Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis grooving at the Kyknet Festival
At the age of 36, the mayor has already made his mark on South African politics as the founder of the Democratic Alliances Student Organisation (DASO), later becoming the youngest member of parliament in South Africa and then the mayor of Cape Town.
Hill-Lewis recently sat down for an exclusive interview with Cape {town} Etc at his home in Edgemead, giving insight into both his personal and professional life.
In this, the first in our series of articles, we learn more about the family man behind the mayoral chain.
Hill-Lewis grew up in Edgemead but is originally from Plettenberg Bay.
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‘My folks split when I was very young,’ he recalls. ‘My mom, a retired nurse, moved to Cape Town.’
‘My late father was an artist.’
‘We had a great and very close relationship and I credit both my parents for teaching me the values and things that are very important to me in the job that I now do.’
The mayor attended Edgemead High School and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree as well as an Honours degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Cape Town (UCT).
He founded the Democratic Alliance Students’ Organisation (DASO) at UCT and worked as chief of staff in the office of former Western Cape Premier Helen Zille.
‘I went to work for the DA with Helen Zille and many other leaders along the way before eventually running for office myself.’
‘I’ve now been the mayor of Cape Town since November 2021.’
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.
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Dear Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis: you’ll win hearts and minds if you play the game
Picture: Monique de Beer Photography
