President rules out secession referendum

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has given a clear indication that he has no intention of holding a referendum to test public opinion for secession of any part of SA, notes The Mercury. ‘The founding provisions of our Constitution state that the Republic of SA is one, sovereign, democratic state,’ Ramaphosa said, responding to parliamentary questions from Economic Freedom Fighters MP Thapelo Mogale, who asked whether he intended holding a referendum to test public opinion for or against secession of the Western Cape, the creation of a Volkstaat for Afrikaners and Western Cape independence. Ramaphosa said the Constitution obliged him to defend the supreme law of the country and promote unity of the nation. Ramaphosa also said he has not been lobbied by any component of the Government of National Unity on the matter.

Full report in The Mercury