Cape Independence has fired back at President Cyril Ramaphosa after he criticized the group’s planned trip to the United States, accusing the movement of undermining South Africa’s constitutional values. The group, which advocates for the secession of the Western Cape from South Africa, has defended its mission, arguing that its existence is a direct result of the ANC’s failure to foster unity and non-racialism.
Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for the Presidency, stated that Cape Independence’s agenda contradicts the country’s constitutional principles of social cohesion and equality. “There is no part of our beautiful land that can be allowed to secede,” Magwenya said on Thursday. “The president cautions everyone to exercise their constitutional rights in a manner that does not undermine or subvert constitutional democracy in South Africa. We should all be actively engaged in building a better South Africa in the face of unpredictable geopolitical dynamics.”
In a sharp response on X (formerly Twitter), Cape Independence argued that the ANC’s failure to prioritize nation-building and non-racialism had led to the group’s formation. “The President’s response to us is deeply ironic. If Ramaphosa and the ANC had focused on nation-building and non-racialism, there wouldn’t be a Cape Independence movement. They didn’t, and now there is,” the group tweeted.
This week, the Cape Independence Advocacy Group (CIAG) formally notified President Ramaphosa, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, and the Premier of the Western Cape of its intention to send a delegation to Washington, D.C. The group plans to meet with U.S. officials to advocate for the Western Cape’s secession from South Africa, citing the need to “rescue” the province from the ANC’s governance.
“We are trying to rescue the Western Cape from the ANC, not sell it to anyone. Cape Independence will put the Western Cape people in charge of their own destiny,” the group stated on social media.
The planned trip has sparked a heated debate, with critics accusing Cape Independence of destabilizing the country’s unity, while supporters argue that the movement represents a legitimate response to the ANC’s perceived failures. As tensions escalate, the group’s efforts to gain international support for its secessionist agenda are likely to remain a contentious issue in South Africa’s political landscape.