The government has once again expressed concern about right wing groupings’ lobbying of the United States to intervene in the country’s domestic affairs.
The latest group to announce it will be undertaking a trip to Washington DC to seek the support of the Donald Trump administration is separatatist group Cape Independence which is seeking cessation from South Africa.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said President Cyril Ramaphosa was deeply upset by the move and warned the group to desist from inviting external forces to interfere in the domestic affairs of the country.
Magwenya briefed the media at the Union Buildings on Thursday and said while the government could not stop individuals from traveling abroad, Ramaphosa “took a dim view” of their actions.
“The president takes a dim view of this planned trip to Washington DC with the sole purpose of mobilising against the country. South Africa is a constitutional democracy and therefore the president urges everyone to exercise their constitutional rights in a manner that does not jeopardise the sovereignty and constitutionality of the country,” said Magwenya emphasising Ramaphosa’s displeasure.
The Cape Independence Movement unsuccessfully tried to contest the 2024 general elections and Magwenya said its failure to secure enough signatures to be on the ballot paper was proof that cessation agenda had little to no support.
The cessation movement is led by British born Phil Craig who also founded the Referendum Party and has come under fire from left leaning political parties with the African Transformation Movement calling for his deportation.
Magwenya confirmed Craig is a permanent resident in South Africa and not a citizen.
“Phil Craig is not a South African, he’s permanent resident and he is yet to be naturalised. So he is not a citizen of South Africa and to your point, indeed it is a concern that somebody who has left his own country of birthhas come to South Africa to sow seeds of division, as he has been doing.But on the other hand, you will recall that they tried to register for these last general electionsand they couldn’t obtain enough signatures.So they do have very limited representativity. What is of concern to us is the sort of perpetuation of distortions about our country.So whoever that will welcome him in the United States will need to know that he is not a South African citizen.
“He is a permanent resident and he is yet to be naturalised. It is perplexing as to why he is seeking South African citizenshipwhen his views or he intends to divide the country. But having said earlier on, we will not allow him to do that. He can travel the world seeking support for his secession ideas. It will not happen now and it will not happen any other time,” said Magwenya.
UMkhonto Wesizwe party, the official opposition party, and several unnamed individuals have laid treason charges against Afriforum and Solidarity over the same misinformation campaign. Magwenya said the government is monitoring developments in the matter.
The DA and Freedom Front Plus have also been supporting the misinformation campaign even after joining the Government of National Unity and have not been held accountable for their role.