Cape Secession

Courtesy of Dachshund (ze Cherman verjin ya?). There's been some discussion lately about the feasibility of the Cape seceding from the Republic after the political party advocating it, the Cape Party managed to garner 2552 votes in the recent elections which is not too shabby a total considering that most people never even knew it existed or that the option of secession was on the table.

However, in light of the interest shown, Herr(?) Dachshund ;) has graciously forwarded the following segment from said Cape Party which I am posting for you to read.

I fear the party that has preached the message of autonomy for the Afrikaner (and by extension ze white people) the Freedom Front Plus has, like the National Party become perhaps irrelevant. Pity. More so since the leader of the FF+ is now in bed with Zuma. Eish, I'm going to enjoy the sexual inferences for the next five years.. It falls then to smaller and newer parties to perhaps carry the fight for a homeland and/or autonomy for the white minority. That is not to say the FF+ has abandoned its aim of such an autonomy but it's been 15 years Mr Mulder..? The fact is our constitution (and international law) DOES permit secession provided the majority of people in a historically demarcated area opts to remove themselves from a union. It would be highly improbable that any portion of the country could secede, or be permitted to secede but the issue here is that it is not impossible. Technically that is.

Here is the link for the Cape Party:

Dachshund copied the section on whether independence for the Cape is legally possible:

1. Is the independence of the Cape really possible?

YES!
The South African Constitution guarantees our right to independence.
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa:
General Provisions.
Chapter 14.
Article 235

(Acknowledges and guarantees)
“…the right of self-determination of any community sharing a common cultural and language heritage, within a territorial entity in the Republic…”


The Cape:

Is a territorial entity within the Republic. Its ancient borders were first marked by the Khoisan resistance to Nguni migration. Is home to the unique Cape/Kaaplander culture. A culture established in 1652. Is home to the unique heritage of the Afrikaans language. A language first recognised in 1707.

Therefore,

The Cape has the right to independence.
International Law guarantees our right to independence.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1976
The United Nations guarantees our right to independence.
UN Charter, Article 1, 1945;
UN General Assembly Resolution 1514, 1960;
Resolution 43/105, 1988;
Resolution 44/147, 1989;
Resolution 47/83 and 47/135, 1992;
Resolution 48/93, 1993
The Cape was independent before 1910
See: History of the Cape
All over the world countries are returning to independence and many have already returned to independence.

Some countries that have already claimed independence:
Pakistan 1947
Cyprus 1960
Singapore 1965
Lesotho 1966
Swaziland 1968
Bangladesh 1973
Czech Republic 1993
Slovakia 1993
Eritrea (Ethiopia) 1993
Hong Kong 1997
Serbia and Montenegro 2006
Kosovo 2008


Some countries that are currently in the process of claiming independence:

Scotland, Britain
Wales, Britain
Quebec, Canada
Flanders, Belgium
Kashmir, India
Southern Sudan, Sudan
Greenland, Denmark
Western Sahara, Morocco
Zanzibar, Tanzania

African Colonies that have already gained independence:

Sudan (1956)
Ghana (1957)
Nigeria (1960)
Tanzania (1961)
Uganda (1962)
Kenya (1963)
Malawi (1964)
Zambia (1964)
Gambia (1965)
Lesotho (1966)
Botswana (1966)
Mauritius (1968)
Swaziland (1968)
Seychelles (1976)
Zimbabwe (1980)
Namibia (1990)

Why not the ‘Cape Colony’?

Since the Union of South Africa in 1910 two of its countries have already reclaimed their independence.
Lesotho in 1966
Swaziland in 1968

The Union of South Africa was a colonial construct forced upon us by the British Empire. The international community, International Law and the African Charter advocate that imposed colonial constructs are returned to their original components.

See: UN African Charter and History of the Cape

If the Cape Party receives over 50% of the vote in an election within the Cape, we will have received a mandate from the people legitimising the return to independence of the Cape.
Native Kaaplanders are a 75% majority in the Cape. If the Cape voted its cultural constituency the democratic victory would be no less than 3 to 1.

2. Is the independence of the Cape a racist volkstaat like Orania?

NEVER!!!

The Cape and its people are one of the most diverse in the world. The Cape has always been an accepting culture, where all races, religions and orientations have lived side by side in peace and goodwill. A true demographic mix of races and a majority Coloured population in the Cape is testament to the Cape’s culture of racial acceptance and diversity. The Cape Party is a revival of the sentiments of the Torch Commandos protests of 1953 – we will not accept racial discrimination of any shape, shade or form. It did not work in Apartheid. It is not working now. The Cape is the true “Rainbow Nation” and we deserve once and for all to govern ourselves free from the grasp of totalitarian racist governments.

3. Is the Cape sustainable as an independent country?

The Cape is not only a sustainable country but with independence it would flourish and could potentially be one of the top 10 wealthiest countries income per capita in the world.

At present the Cape is being drained of over 75% of its taxes.
That means that right now the Cape is surviving on a quarter of its taxed wealth.
If the Cape returned to independence it would immediately have 4 times more money to spend on its own people than is now being spent by the South African government.

According to the latest data, in 2008 the Gross Domestic Product of the Western Cape was R175 billion. Financial intermediation, insurance, real estate and business services was the largest producing sector at R54 billion. Manufacturing came second at R30 billion. Wholesale and retail trade, catering and accommodation produced R29 billion, followed by an established agricultural, forestry and fishing sector. These are hallmarks of a well balanced first-world economy. This confirms that in spite of the government’s extraction of wealth the Cape is by itself a world class economy.

Compared with some of the most successful economies in the world such as Singapore, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Ireland (high income per capita, low unemployment) the Cape has a distinct advantage in land and resources.

Singapore: only 707 km2 in size, with a population of 4,8million. In 1965 Singapore became independent. They were a handful of destitute islands with mass unemployment, few natural resources and a shortage of land and clean water. Today they are one of the strongest economies in the world with an income per capita of $49 754.

Switzerland: 41 284 km2 in size, with a population of 7,6million. They are a small country surrounded by ice-capped mountains with few natural resources aside from fresh water. They have one of the most stable economies in the world and an income per capita of $42 840.

Hong Kong: 1104 km2 in size, with a population of 6.9million. Hong Kong is a collection of overpopulated mountainous islands with few natural resources. They are consistently ranked as one of the most successful economies in the world with an income per capita of $42 123.

Ireland: 70 273 km2 in size, with a population of 4.4million. Ireland is a high rainfall region that contains moderate resources. Their income per capita is the 7th highest in the world at $42 779.

None of the above countries have the latent potential that the Cape has in land, resources and tourism. The common traits these countries share are good political and economic policies. The Cape has the potential to have one of the highest incomes per capita in the world offering all of its citizens the best standards of living in education, housing, security, employment and health.

The Cape would thrive as an independent country.

4. If I don't live in the Cape will it still benefit me to support the Cape Party?

YES.

First and foremost the Cape Party is a group devoted to the Cape and its people, but our strict policy of good governance is one that will greatly benefit any region in which we are elected.

In a country where we are subjected to the totalitarian and racist rule of one party, Cape Party representatives will fight for what is fair and just in any political position they will hold throughout the Republic of South Africa.

All other parties are trying to gain what little power they can on a national framework and by doing so obediently endorse the majority principles that define our racist government. These parties neglect the local regions that elected them in the hope that they might gain more power nationally. The Cape Party is the only group that can defend what is morally right in a way that all other political parties are incapable of. The Cape Party’s focus is on ‘real politics’ how real people’s lives are affected on the ground from day to day.

An independent Cape would benefit all who live in it, all who might want to live in it in the future and all other nations who want to interact/trade with the Cape.

Following independence:

If you have no criminal record and can offer a good or a service to our economy and our people you will be welcomed into the Cape.

The Cape’s bustling economy will be open to engage freely with any other nation void of any trade barriers or tariffs - a benefit to both the Cape and its trade partners.

A flourishing Cape will be of greater benefit to its friendly neighbours and trade partners than a Cape that is crippled under oppressive control.