Western Cape Seeks Donald Trump’s Support for Secession from South Africa
The Western Cape independence movement plans to visit Washington next month to seek support from Donald Trump, defying South Africa's opposition to separatism. The Cape Independence Advocacy Group aims to secure backing for a referendum and criticizes President Ramaphosa's policies. The visit raises questions about South Africa's consistency on self-determination.
hassan benyoub 
In a bold move defying South Africa’s stance on territorial integrity, the Western Cape independence movement, led by white Afrikaans advocates, is planning a trip to Washington next month to secure backing from Donald Trump. This development, announced by the Cape Independence Advocacy Group (GIAC), comes as South Africa staunchly rejects any separatist claims within its borders, despite its vocal support for self-determination in the Moroccan Sahara.
The GIAC has formally notified South Africa’s Presidency, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Western Cape local government of its intent to send a delegation to the United States. The group aims to meet American officials, raise funds, and garner diplomatic support for a referendum on Cape independence. In a statement, the GIAC emphasized that “this visit is a critical step in our campaign to give the people of the Cape a voice in determining their future.”
South Africa’s government has not raised legal objections to the planned Washington visit, though the Presidency expressed displeasure. A spokesperson underscored the nation’s democratic values, stating, “The free flow of ideas is vital to democracy. Even those with the most offensive views have the right to express them, a right enshrined in our Constitution—unlike many places worldwide.”
However, the GIAC has sharply criticized President Cyril Ramaphosa for dismissing the Western Cape’s independence demands. The group accused him of hypocrisy, pointing to his calls for a unified nation while enforcing race-based policies that undermine property rights and impose an artificial demographic model on one of the world’s most diverse populations. “The President’s claim that no part of South Africa will be allowed to secede contradicts the right to self-determination—a binding principle under international law,” the GIAC argued. They cited South Africa’s ratification of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenants on Civil, Political, Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, all of which uphold self-determination.
The Western Cape movement, critical of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for monopolizing power, reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing independence through peaceful, legal, and democratic means. The group seeks to establish a “true democracy” in the Cape, returning political power to its people. It also envisions an independent foreign policy aligned with democratic values and human rights, distancing itself from Pretoria’s “outdated ideological alliances” and “failed communist ideals that have stunted South Africa’s growth and isolated it globally.”
South Africa’s double standards—supporting separatism in Morocco’s Sahara while rejecting it at home—have sparked fresh questions about its political consistency. A South African diplomat recently framed Pretoria’s backing of the Polisario Front as a “moral and legal obligation.” Yet, analysts see this as part of a broader Pretoria-Algiers strategy to counter Morocco’s rising political and economic influence in Africa amid the waning roles of other regional players.
The GIAC has previously told Hespress that ANC policies have severely harmed the Western Cape’s population, exacerbating economic and social challenges. The group hopes Morocco might champion its cause on the international stage, highlighting a potential shift in regional dynamics.
