As a member of the Executive Committee and director of CapeXit Non Profit Organisation, I read a highly interesting article entitled, “Self-dertemination is the issue of the year in the Western Cape”, recently, and indeed agree with much of what was written by Phil Craig of the Cape Independence Advocacy Group (CIAG)
However, I feel a need to respond to the article on a very important point where our opinions, based on factual evidence differ substantially, to the point of rendering the following paragraph rather debatable.
According to Phil Craig, “Self-determination is going to be the political battleground of 2022, and not just for the Western Cape, although that is where the main battle will take place. In the Western Cape the DA, with the support of many other parties who also support devolution, hold political and legislative power. Collectively they have the overwhelming support of the provincial populace.”
However, considering that, the number of people who voted for the DA in the recent local government elections throughout the Western Cape was 799.911, according to the official results published by the Independent Electoral Committee (IEC) on 12 December 2021, despite the DA’s negative stance on “outright Independence”. The main reason so many voted for the DA despite their prefered option being for “Devoloution of Power”, is simply that, neither was issue being voted on, but was simply on who should run the local municipalities for the next 5 years.
Interestingly though, currently Capexit already has signed and verifyiable mandates from 824.061 people, with the number growing daily, who specifically want “outright independence”, as opposed to “self-determination within the confines of a ferderal South Africa” as stated in the article.
The article further goes on to say, “Following an announcement by the Cape Independence Advocacy Group in the run-up to the local government elections that the Democratic Alliance (DA) and seven other parties were willing in principle to support a referendum on Cape Independence, secession became a hot topic. Polling by Victory Research in July 2021 showed that 46% of Western Cape voters supported the idea of Cape Independence”
Therefore it could be argued that, to say that “collectively they (DA) have the overwhelming support of the provincial populace” for devolution of power, is not entirely correct, especially in light of the fact that, with tens of thousands of additional signed mandates having been received by Capexit since polling, some seven months ago, the percentage of people in support of “Cape Independence” and not “Self Determination within the confines of a Federal South Africa” has and continues to grow significantly.
This clear distinction is both highly significant, and also very easy to explain why the “overwhelming support of the provincial populace” is in fact for “sovereign Independence”, and not simply for “devolution of power”, as follows;
Firstly, and with good reason, very few people believe that the ANC will ever agree to devolving any of their power, and if so, that nothing could stop them from taking back control at any time and at will. Again, I refer to the article to underline this as follows:
“ex-Finance Minister Tito Mboweni in response to his call for the CIAG, who were promoting Cape Independence, to be “quickly dealt with”, and “In September 2021, when the devolution of policing was debated in the National Council of Provinces, Police Minister Bheki Cele was adamant that not only were police powers not going to be devolved, but that even the existig devolved powers were going to be reduced.”
Secondly, as long as the ANC controls the economy, taxes and budget allocations for the provinces, it is highly likely that they will make sure that the Western Cape remains underfunded, and the DA would then be forced to further increase local rates and taxes or introduce new ones to adequately fund their additional responsibilities. This would in turn further stifle any chance of significant growth, or indeed the economic survival of the Western Cape.
Thirdly, it has become clear that, the only way the ANC can possibly stay in power after the 2024 national government elections, is in coalition with the EFF and a few smaller centrist leaning political parties. Therefore the ANC alienating itself futher from its potential allies by making concessions to the DA is undoubtedly a “no-go” for the ANC.
Fourthly, by the Western Cape gaining pseudo control of the police, metro rail and possibly a few other portfolios, the real issues of creating a rapidly growing economy in the WC, so as to reduce both unemployment and poverty, will not have been addressed.
On the contrary, it would be seen as nothing short of a “power sharing” arrangement between the DA and the ANC, which quite possible, could become the best tactic for the ANC to follow, as it would undoubtedly herald the eventual demise of the DA as they render themselves entirely at the mercy of the ANC while simultaneously, thereby further alienating their own supporters if not on a national scale, definitely on a provincial scale.
Fifthly, the uncontrolled influx of work seekers from outside of the Western Cape, despite the high unemployment rate within the Western cape, will continue unabated only to outstrip the service delivery and infrastructural capacity of the Western Cape to cope with this phenomenon.
Therefore logically, “sovereign independence” remains the only realistic, feasible and sustainable solution for the Western Cape, with secure and internationally recognised borders in place, to stabilise the region, gain full control of its own destiny and so, begin to build a modern, prosperous and secure future for all it’s people.
Logically, yet seemingly paradoxically to some, the very best thing that could happen to the rest of South Africa, would be a strong, friendly and vibrant neighbor, trading partner and magnet for foreign investment, tourism and hub of cutting edge medical, education and technological advancement, right on it’s doorstep.
So, yes, Self-determination, as provided for in the constitution under article 235, is indeed the issue of the year in the Western Cape, but more accurately, “Sovereign Independence” is the real issue, and time is running out.
Further reading on the mission and vision of Capexit, a registered non profit organisation, on the future of an independent Western Cape, can be found on the website www.capexit.org
