Recently, I found myself engrossed in a fascinating discussion on Cape Independence, hosted by @nowinsa. The guest of honour was Phil Craig, leader of the Referendum Party (RP), dedicated to prompting a referendum in the Western Cape. Its aim is crystal clear: urging the DA to call for a vote on independence while harbouring no ambitions to govern South Africa.

You can listen to the full interview here: https://x.com/NowInSA/status/1765042159105736767?s=20

Before diving into the details of the conversation and debunking misconceptions about the Cape Independence movement, I want to commend NOWinSA. Their willingness to engage in such discussions, even if they disagree, is commendable. It’s essential to shed light on these topics rather than pushing them into the shadows, where they can fester and grow, potentially leading to unforeseen consequences.

History is rife with examples of ideas gaining traction in the shadows before emerging as significant movements. Take Nazi Germany, for instance, where Hitler initially preached in obscure venues before ascending to power. Now, I’m not equating Cape Independence to Nazism, but the principle of discussing ideas openly applies here.

One prevalent misconception about Cape Independence pertains to its racial implications. Critics often dismiss it as a white supremacist movement, disregarding its diverse support base. In truth, this movement is about empowering all Western Cape residents, regardless of ethnicity, and breaking free from ANC governance, not perpetuating racial divides.

No Dompas

During the interview, the host (and I am paraphrasing) questions whether he would need a passport to visit the Western Cape if it were to secede. He then draws a comparison to the “Dompas,” a crude and abhorrent tool employed by the Apartheid government to restrict the movements of people of colour. He further queries whether such border measures wouldn’t be “regressive”.

The analogy drawn between needing a passport to visit an independent Western Cape and the apartheid-era dompas is misguided. It’s perplexing to me why a passport is equated with a dompas, and some individuals struggle to comprehend this, even though Namibia gained independence from South Africa relatively recently, in 1990.

Namibia attained independence through its own process, under the supervision of the UN. However, I can’t help but wonder if the individuals transitioning to Namibian citizenship at that time were subjected to accusations of racism, treason, sympathy towards apartheid, or colonialism.

I doubt it.

The Referendum Party’s goal is clear: to give Western Cape residents a voice in their future through a democratic process. It’s not about apartheid-like laws or racial division; it’s about letting people decide their destiny.

Phil Craig’s character and background were scrutinized

Individuals expressed dissatisfaction with several aspects:

– His race: He is white.

– His nationality: He hails from the UK.

– His leadership role in the movement, leading some to perceive it as a white-dominated movement.

– His lack of a university degree in politics or related fields.

I can’t begin to count how many times I’ve rolled my eyes at this.

It’s astounding to me that people fail to recognise the racism inherent in labelling this a white movement.

Just because a white man heads the RP party doesn’t automatically make it a white-centric movement. Similarly, John Steenhuisen being white doesn’t render the DA a white-centric party, as both parties boast multiracial candidates and supporters.

To brand them as exclusively white is racist, as it judges them solely based on their leader’s skin colour. Discrimination based on skin colour is inherently racist.

Phil didn’t come from the UK with the intention to spearhead the separation of the Western Cape. This idea emerged when he witnessed the ANC’s detrimental impact on the country, and he felt compelled to stand up and defend the last remaining somewhat functional province, despite the backlash he has faced and continues to face.

When questioned about his leadership role in the movement, Phil responded that he never aspired to be a political leader, and still doesn’t. However, when the RP was established, people chose him as their leader. When the Cape Independence Advocacy Group (CIAG) was formed, he stepped up because no one else would.

Neither the CIAG nor the RP party has ever advocated for apartheid-like laws or any similar measures.

Some people tried to undermine Phil Craig’s intelligence and credibility due to his educational background.

This was probably the most hilarious part of the space because all I can think about is the countless politicians who are in control of this country right now and they haven’t even finished school! Let alone have a university degree.

Those who criticize Phil for his education should focus on current leaders. If you value degrees so much, why not start a political party yourself? Education matters, but it doesn’t guarantee good leadership, as evident in our current situation.

Another argument against Cape Independence that arose in this discussion was its legality.

What does the Constitution say?

An individual cited the Constitution, claiming that her quote was evidence that independence is illegal and unattainable.

In my opinion, she may be reading the Constitution but is blinded by her bias, leading her to misinterpret its contents — a cognitive bias.

Phil then referenced another part of the Constitution that explicitly addresses self-determination and asserts that it is permissible, while also mentioning international laws that support self-determination.

However, the individual dismissed this argument and labelled him as uneducated.

I’m not a legal expert, but I doubt it’s illegal. Many countries have gained independence in recent years, showing it’s possible. If it were illegal, Phil Craig would likely be arrested, but he hasn’t been, which suggests he’s not breaking any laws.

If you’re sure it’s illegal and won’t happen, why not let Phil and the RP party hold a referendum? If you believe it won’t succeed legally, let the referendum happen. Let’s see what unfolds.

If you want to listen to that section of the interview here is the timestamp: 1 hr 11 min – 1hr 23 min.

And this brings me to my next point…

What will kill the movement?

If the RP does not garner any votes or fails to secure enough votes in the 2024 elections, will this spell the end of the Cape Independence movement? Will it extinguish the idea altogether?

Phil provided a good response but let me add to it.

In short, no.

The RP party is not the sole organisation or political party advocating for Cape independence. For example, the FF+ is also committed to the idea. Additionally, there’s the Cape Independence Party, distinct from the RP party. Organisations such as CapeXit and the CIAG, which are not political parties, will undoubtedly continue to advocate for Cape independence.

If I were in the discussion, I would have responded by saying:

“If you want to resolve this issue definitively, let the people of the Western Cape decide… let’s hold a referendum on it. Because if they all vote no, then it’s the end of the matter.”

Speaking about the people of the Western Cape…

There are some facts that need to be highlighted here…

Demographics

The Western Cape’s majority population is Coloured (42%), followed by Black (39%), White (16%), and Indian and Asian (1%).

For those who claim it is a white movement… Are you suggesting that 16% of the Western Cape are driving this?

No, a significant number of Coloured people support Cape independence.

And it’s not difficult to understand why. During Apartheid, they weren’t considered white enough; now, under the ANC, they’re not deemed black enough.

If the Western Cape were to secede, it would mean that Coloured people would no longer be the forgotten group of this country.

We could even see the first Coloured president.

This could be a reality. Personally, I would welcome it.

And who can better decide who controls the Western Cape than its own people?

Western Cape Independence supporters – the numbers

We can see this from the 2023 polling that CIAG has on its website. Here are the figures.

Source: CIAG Website

Now I know those that are sceptical of polling will say anything to question this poll.

However, this was a poll done by Victory Research, a reputable polling company used by many large political parties and businesses in South Africa.

Polling is also a snapshot in time to see how people or current markets are responding.

The trend for support of Cape independence has been growing, and there’s no reason to believe that trend has declined.

Source: CIAG Website

For a movement that is labelled as racist, it sure has diverse support and a lot of it, including support in Khayelitsha where Cape Independence recently opened a branch.

Source: Referendum Party profile on X

A National Referendum on Cape Independence?

And this brings me to the question that was raised: could or would the referendum be allowed to go national? In other words, could other provinces vote on it?

Unfortunately, the host went off on a tangent, suggesting that it would be discrimination or apartheid-like if the rest of the nation couldn’t have a say on the Western Cape. But he fundamentally misses the point of a referendum FOR the Western Cape.

It is the democratic right of the WESTERN CAPE people to decide if they want to secede from South Africa. Someone in Gauteng does not have the right to decide for the Western Cape people whether they should leave or not, because they do not reside in the Western Cape.

The question of Western Cape independence is for none other than the Western Cape people. No other province can or will have a say, and that is a tough reality for some to accept. It’s not apartheid because, again, no one is saying “blacks can’t vote.” They are saying that the people of the Western Cape want to decide if they want to be their own country. All races will be allowed to vote as long as they are in the Western Cape.

The people of the Western Cape don’t like the way the ANC runs things and want a chance at a brighter future.

It’s not racist to think this way. The movement opposes a tyrannical government, not the people of South Africa. The ANC’s majority being black isn’t relevant to the movement’s stance.

Now, I know the DA governs the Western Cape, but the ANC still has a strong hold on the Western Cape, and there’s only so much the DA can do. For example, the SAPS is not run or controlled by the DA; the national government controls SAPS. That’s just one example.

The fact of the matter is that if the ANC had focused on making South Africa a prosperous and thriving country free of corruption, educational crises, health care crises, high crime rates, and load shedding, then there would be no talk of Cape Independence because there would not be a need for it.

Ironically, the ANC created the Cape Independence movement.

Potential civil war

I would also like to address the comments made by some naysayers who claim that Cape independence will instigate a civil war. Although this wasn’t mentioned in the interview, such assertions can be found on social media.

As I have just outlined, South Africa is grappling with numerous issues. The high unemployment crisis alone is sufficient to foment instability within the country. Riots occur almost daily, and the ANC’s pursuit of centralisation, from establishing a state bank to implementing NHI (National Health Insurance), exacerbates tensions. Expropriation without compensation has the potential to escalate into a civil war. Cape Independence supporters unequivocally reject the idea of civil war. The Referendum Party is dedicated to ensuring that independence can be achieved peacefully. However, my concern lies in the ANC’s propensity for underhanded tactics.

If anyone wants to settle this matter, let’s hold a referendum on Cape Independence in the Western Cape and allow the people to decide once and for all.