Getting to know Mayor Hill-Lewis

Getting to know the Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis

What inspired you to start working in the political sphere in the first place?

My grade 10 history teacher gave me a copy of Alan Paton’s Cry the Beloved Country. The book offered me a glimpse of what South Africa was really like and set off a kind of intellectual awakening and an interest in the country’s history and politics. It was a crucial and vibrant time in South Africa, with issues like the collapse of Zimbabwe and President Mbeki’s quiet support of Robert Mugabe, Aids denialism, and other issues filling the headlines. I found myself hugely stimulated by the debates on the pages of the Mail & Guardian, which I used to read every Friday.

The thing that really convinced me to enter politics, however, was watching the debates that would unfold each week in the early 2000s between Tony Leon’s SA Today and President Mbeki’s ANC Today. Both newsletters were released every Friday morning. In those newsletters, I saw the possibility of being able to change and build our country through careful thought, creativity and caring about its people. I found it deeply inspiring.

What have been the most unexpected challenges you’ve faced since coming into office?

Not a great deal has surprised me, other than the length of time things take in government. This is something I would very much like to change. The legislation governing municipal procurement and other processes in South Africa is cumbersome and often encourages inaction rather than bold decision-making to aggressively pursue a better life for residents. Our IPP energy procurement programme, for example, could be greatly expedited and load-shedding in Cape Town ended much sooner if the national government were willing to reform this legislation or exempt the City from it.

What motivates you to get out of bed every day?

Doing something meaningful is the source of happiness. For me, meaning is found in a sense I have of my higher purpose, which is to increase the flourishing of the humans living around me. Everything I do in my work is oriented towards this goal, and I derive a deep sense of satisfaction whenever I see that we have improved a single life, even in a small way.

Of course, meaning does not have to be found in politics or government. People find meaning in a variety of places. For me, though, the most reliable source of meaning is service. I believe it is on us – and on each and every one of us – to make our communities better, happier, safer, cleaner and kinder. When we commit ourselves to this task, lots of other things simply fall into place spiritually.

Do you have any advice for aspiring public servants?

The public service in South Africa is desperately lacking in skills and expertise. Pursuing a career as a public servant promises to be highly fulfilling, but you will be doing yourself and your country a huge favour if you commit yourself to learning and upskilling before and after becoming a government official.

What are you reading at the moment, or what’s a recent standout book you’ve read?

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. It is an epic adventure novel set in India, which features some of the most poignant descriptions of the human condition I have ever met. It explores themes that are very close to my heart, including poverty and suffering and the need to do something about it. It is also a reminder of the importance of love and finding meaning in one’s existence, wherever one is and in whichever circumstances one finds oneself in.

What do you like to do in any spare time you have?

I treasure the time I have to spend with my family, and make sure I prioritise this every day. I also love to read and spend time in the garden. There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of having nurtured and grown a beautiful plant. I love to travel around the Western Cape, which can be a surprisingly easy and affordable thing to do. There is so much about our city and province to be inspired by and grateful for, and I love discovering this afresh every time I head out.

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