What must western-aligned communities in South Africa do?

Growing tensions between South Africa and the United States largely surround discriminatory policies such as Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), human rights concerns, and foreign policy alignment with states that are hostile to the US like Iran.

The Government of National Unity (GNU) has foolishly pursued these policies, exposing exporters such as farmers to tariffs. Tariffs that could be avoided.

With regards to official engagement with the US, DIRCO as well as the Trade and Industry Department continue to play an insignificant role, with informal business and political networks now directing meaningful engagement with the US.

When I consider the above mentioned actions by the current South African government I am left with the question, what should western aligned communities in South Africa do?

This is the question that Referendum Party leader Phil Craig asked keynote speaker Joshua Meservey of the Hudson Institute at a recent conference at Stellenbosch University.

After Phil Craig pointed out that we agree with the US when it identifies the egregious actions by the South African government, he then stated that we “despise our government more than they ever could, it doesn’t speak for us, but we have no legislated means by which to command it.”

This important point has been noted by Ernst Van Zyl when he talks about the Tyranny of the Majority and that there is no mechanism in South Africa for minorities to protect themselves.

Phil Crag then asked Meservey the question, “What did he believe western leaning communities in South Africa should do?”

In response to this question, Meservey outlined that a “sub-national” approach to South Africa–US relations is gaining traction in Washington, with the Western Cape as a focal point.

What this means is that Cape Independence could provide the US with a reliable regional ally.

Constitutional provisions allow the Western Cape to enact independent trade policy, and its current trade patterns already diverge from the national average.

The province has occasionally defied national policy, suggesting readiness for autonomy. In this context, Cape Independence is presented as a pragmatic solution to economic, diplomatic, and governance challenges under the current political system.