A clamour for Western Cape independence has emerged, gaining traction among a vocal few.
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The Cape Independence Advocacy Group (CIAG) has confirmed that neither President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, nor the Western Cape Premier has raised any legal objections to its planned visit to Washington to lobby for Cape independence.
In a statement, the CIAG revealed that it had formally notified all three officials on March 17, outlining its intention to visit the US.
The organisation invited both national and provincial governments to raise any legal concerns within seven days, but no objections were submitted.
President Ramaphosa has expressed strong disapproval of the CIAG’s visit, particularly in light of ongoing diplomatic tensions between Washington and Pretoria.
Speaking to the media in Pretoria on Thursday, Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya emphasised that the government’s focus should remain on addressing the needs of all South Africans through policies that promote social unity.
“The President takes a very dim view of this planned visit to the US to seek secession from South Africa. The constitutional democracy that we forged in 1994 created a unitary state and a non-racial society that recognises and protects our unity in diversity,” Magwenya stated.
When contacted by IOL for comment, Regan Thaw, media liaison officer to the Western Cape Premier, said: “The Premier is not commenting on this matter.”
The CIAG has confirmed that it is finalising arrangements, with its delegation expected to arrive in the US within the next two weeks.
The planned trip follows a recent visit by AfriForum and Solidarity, during which the groups lobbied Washington to intervene in South African policies, particularly on land and education, drawing the attention of President Donald Trump.
Ramaphosa has strongly criticised such international lobbying efforts, describing them as unpatriotic. Addressing the National Assembly, he said: “I regard that as non-patriotic because when you are a patriot of a country, the best you do is resolve problems or issues internally, rather than damaging your country’s sovereignty by appealing to foreign governments to take action against your own nation.”
The CIAG’s trip is expected to reignite debate on Cape independence and its implications for South Africa’s political landscape.
IOL
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