The campaign for Western Cape province’s independence by The Referendum Party aims to pressure the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Phil Craig, president of the Referendum Party, is steadfast that, with the DA on their side, the West Coast can separate from South Africa

Referendum Party was officially established on 09 November 2023, and its leader Phil Craig gave ClickHub insight into the party’s stance on immigration that had South Africans abuzz

Why does the Western Cape want independence?

Phil Craig has lived in Cape Town, South Africa, from the UK, since 2013 as part of the Sales & Marketing team at AGS Solar. In 2023, the self-described Political lobbyist started the Referendum Party. Craig says his political party exists to ramp up the urgency for the DA Western Cape Alan Winde to put the matter of an independent Western Cape province to a public vote ( a referendum).

Referendum Party’s Phil Craig emphasised to ClickHub that the party aims to make Western Cape voters’ voices heard. He said:

It is important to appreciate that we want a genuinely democratic solution that is in the best interest of all citizens but not be subject to the ‘soft bigotry of low expectations.’

Which political party runs the Western Cape?

The Democratic Alliance (DA), led by John Steenhuissen, proudly declares that it has run the Western Cape province for more than a decade since 2009. Referendum Party’s (RP) website points out where they believe the DA went wrong, but Phil Craig makes it clear that the political party does not want to topple the ruling party in the Western Cape. Instead, he argues that the Western Cape’s independence can only help DA. The party’s biggest opp, the ANC, is projected to win in 2024 as they have since 1994.

Phil argues the choice in the 2024 general elections is between going down with a sinking ship that South Africa or seizing control of their resources to “secure a first-world future.”

Referendum Party envisions South Africa’s Western Cape Province as a country

Creating a whole country will naturally include establishing immigration laws. RP summarises their plan as:

The large-scale illegal settlement of land will come to an immediate stop. An efficient immigration system will be put in place for those wishing to come to the Cape of Good Hope (CoGH) legally. Anyone who can make a positive contribution will be welcomed. Budgets will now be spent improving the circumstances of those legally in the CoGH. 

The illegal settlements refer to areas such as Chris Hani Park and Enkanini, two of the 204 recognised informal settlements in Cape Town. ISmaps reports there are over 147,000 households in Cape Town who would theoretically be considered illegal immigrants.

Most of the areas considered illegal settlements are large communities of black and other people of colour. When asked how RP would ensure rights and interests for all despite background or ethnicity, Phil said the law would be applied without “favour or prejudice.”. Phil also addressed any potential displacement of residents becoming a humanitarian crisis arguing that:

Stopping/halting the escalating problem [illegal settlements] will not create humanitarian consequences while not halting it create these consequences.

With the RP aiming to get 100,000 voters in the General Elections, two national assembly seats and three in the Western Cape (WC) parliament, the party’s goals left some people concerned. Craig said the immigration laws would be no different from any other country. The RP leader believes that making immigration “a bureaucratic nightmare” could be beneficial. Craig explained:

If the process is a bureaucratic nightmare, many with legal aspirations give up while others come with impunity. This disincentivises those with special skills and business interests that can create employment.

A woman went viral after expressing worry over what an independent WC province would imply for her family. Watch the video by clicking here.

Netizens shared their apprehension over RP’s mission if they get into power. Craig highlighted that they have a “single issue objective”, which is to put the matter about an independent Western Cape to a public vote. Craig said:

We want to ask the WC people what they want and not determine the outcome. If people do not want this solution, they still had the opportunity to choose, which is the essence of democracy.

For now, The Referendum Party looks ahead to South Africa’s 2024 General Elections. What do you think of RP’s plan for an Independent Western Cape?

ClickHub contacted the Democratic Alliance for comment and awaits their response.