Cape Independence Advocacy Group and the Referendum Party’s Phil Craig has defended himself again amid repeated calls for his deportation.
A petition, started on March 7, 2024, has been gaining increased visibility over the last few months. The petition calling for Craig’s deportation is now sitting at 59,800 signatures.
The petition, started by “Keep South Africa Free”, has described Craig as a UK nationalist “who is causing division in our country”.
“His actions are reminiscent of the apartheid era, threatening to tear apart the unity we have fought so hard to establish. It is unacceptable that an outsider seeks to disrupt our peace and harmony.
“South Africa has come a long way since the end of apartheid in 1994. We have strived for unity and equality among all citizens, regardless of their race or ethnicity. The introduction of divisive ideologies from foreign nationals like Phil Craig threatens this progress,” the petition says.
Through the work of the Cape Independence Advocacy Group and the Referendum Party, Craig has been championing for a Western Cape secession.
“By any objective measure, South Africa as a country is performing abysmally, to the great detriment of its people. This is a direct result of terrible government policies, further exacerbated by gross incompetence and corruption. I will never apologise for wanting to change this and, in doing so, to improve people’s lives.
“The Western Cape is the only province that has enacted its own constitution, and the right of the Western Cape Premier to call a provincial referendum is reaffirmed in Section 37(2)(f).
“It is therefore inconceivable that a legal resident holding and promoting an idea in accordance with Sections 15 and 16 of the Constitution – where the desired outcome is that the Western Cape people exercise their rights under Section 235 of the Constitution, having first established that this is their democratic will in accordance with Section 127 of the Constitution – can be an egregious action deserving of extreme sanction,” Craig said.
“In light of the above, the conduct of certain political parties and individuals has been despicable, malicious, undemocratic, and coercive. Ironically, this conduct underscores the importance of Cape Independence.”
On Monday, Craig added that, ironically, the petition and the constant abuse that he has been subjected to further illustrate their point.
“Via Parliament and the Presidency, it has been established that we are acting within our rights and the law. We are pursuing self-determination (an established human right) in line with the Constitution, based upon a referendum of the Western Cape people.
“I wrote the Non-racialism Bill that is currently with the portfolio committee on Justice and Constitutional Development. If people want to run me out of the country for that, it says far more about them than me,” Craig said.
“I don’t expect everyone to like my views, but they are going to have to learn to live with them. I am fighting for a better future for all the Western Cape people (coloured, black, and white), and I am going nowhere.”
Previously, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has indicated that his department will not withdraw the permanent residency status of Craig because MPs dislike him for his political views.
Schreiber’s stance came when Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia stated that the actions of the Cape Independence Group “could not be deemed a risk to national stability”.
