‍Breitbart News Senior Editor-at-Large, Joel Pollak and I are Americans with a special connection and love for South Africa. While I wasn’t born in South Africa like Mr. Pollak, my family resided in the Western Cape for several years, and still maintain close friend and family ties.

So anytime a thoughtful, informed American writes about the situation in South Africa, I pay attention and like to compare notes with my own experience and views.

And considering Pollak is rumored to be on the short list for America’s next Ambassador to South Africa, his comments should be seriously considered by everyone with a stake or concern in this important region of the world.

That said, I recently listened to an informative interview of Mr. Pollak, hosted by the SA Jewish Report, where, at one point, Pollak was asked a very good question by Howard Sackstein. “If you were to give the South African government advice, what would you say to them?”

 Pollack’s response is worth noting:

“Federalism. You have this amazing system (like the US) that nine provinces can experiment with different approaches […] and it’s pretty clear that the results of the experiment are in and the Western Cape is the successful model […] I would say to the South African government, delegate more power to the provinces that are successful. Let the Western Cape do more of what it’s doing in terms of investing in things like alternative power generation.  Let them become a more liberal economic zone…give power to provinces to set their own policies on issues that have thus far been national.” ‍

Pollak’s position reflects many of the arguments I have heard by members of the Democratic Alliance (the party which governs the Western Cape), and this would seem, on the surface, to be a very forward-thinking view.

However, when actually digging into the details of how federalism would work in South Africa, I believe it becomes very evident that such a model would ultimately prove disastrous for the Western Cape (and American relations).

First of all, when we consider South African provinces, we’re not comparing apples-to-apples. The Western Cape has a completely different demography from the rest of the country (or Continent for that matter). It is the only province that resembles anything close to Nelson Mandela’s “Rainbow Nation.”

Consider that 42percent of the population is composed of “Cape Coloureds,” a unique ethnicity formed from a racial mix of European, African, and Asian peoples with a culture and language found no where else in the world. Then we have a 38 percent mix of black African groups (including a large expat community of Zimbabweans and Malawians), and finally a minority white population, which, including Indians, accounts for roughly 19 percent of who’s left.

The people of the Western Cape have produced a community found no where else in South Africa. It’s unique demography has informed a unique ideology, which is largely why the province has never voted for the leftist African National Congress (ANC) in the30 years since the end of the Apartheid system. The Cape has always looked West for its future and its friends. You can’t say this about other parts of South Africa.

So, from a very practical standpoint, there is no way the Western Cape can be replicated in South Africa by simply cutting some red tape and encouraging more local autonomy.

Secondly, federalism will not work in South Africa for the same reason federalism would not work in the United States if only one of the 50 states functioned at the first world level. If only California had good roads, schools, clean audits, a decent economy, and low crime, it would quickly be swamped by refugees fleeing the mediocrity in other states. California would soon look like the rest of America. This is already happening in the Western Cape under the present system.

Demographics is destiny. Within a few election cycles, if current trends continue, the ANC will dominate the Cape, and this beautiful province will be governed by the same kleptocrats who, as Pollak so aptly stated in his interview (to paraphrase),“are evidently the only people who believe the Communists won the Cold War.”

I want to agree with the spirit of Pollak’s views on federalism because I understand what he’s driving at. South Africa needs to reward what is working with more freedom to keep doing what works. However, I think it can be easily shown that unless the Western Cape controls its own borders and economy, federalism will do nothing to check its inevitable sinking, as more people try to board this “lifeboat” than can reasonably be accommodated.

So what is the answer in keeping with the spirit of what Pollak, and all of us, desire for South Africans? Simple: Independence for the Western Cape. Put a successful, first world, western-aligned competitor on the doorstep of South Africa, and things will start to change for everyone. The Cape would have the right to run its internal and external affairs (which Pollak supports), but be protected from “swamping” by controlling its own borders.

The Cape Independence Advocacy Group has conducted several credible polls showing overwhelming support by the Cape people for a referendum on independence from South Africa. In other words, the Cape is ready for more than just the band-aid solution that federalism ultimately is. They just need a strong, outside advocate recognizing and supporting their rights. Someone, perhaps, like Donald J. Trump and Elon Musk.

With a strong competitor next door, the ANC will scramble to avoid the brain-drain, talent drain, and capital drain that will inevitably happen if they continue to flirt with Marxist “politics of envy.” This would be good for all South Africans.

Best of all, an independent Cape means America would gain a real ally in one of the most strategic areas of the Southern Hemisphere and the African Continent. It’s a win-win for all concerned— except perhaps for China— which wouldn’t bother President Trump at all.

Assuming “Ambassador” Pollak gets the tap from Trump, I wish him all the best in his new assignment, and look forward to his shepherding many new partnership opportunities with America’s allies in the Cape of Good Hope.

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