Former South African President Jacob Zuma has stirred controversy by advocating for a reduction in the number of provinces from nine to four, a move perceived by many as a strategic attempt to regain political influence through his breakaway uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party.

Zuma's proposal, outlined during a gathering in Pietermaritzburg, is not positioned as a cost-saving measure for the state, which currently expends substantial funds to maintain various provincial legislatures. Instead, Zuma argues that the consolidation aims to prevent a power shift away from the black population in South Africa.

Expressing frustration over the perceived invincibility of the predominantly white Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape, Zuma suggested the reintegration of the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape into a single province, the Cape Province. The rationale behind this move is to dilute the DA vote by incorporating millions of ANC voters from the Eastern Cape, potentially swinging power back to the ANC.

With over 3.34 million registered voters in the Eastern Cape, Zuma believes that such a merger would bolster ANC's influence. He argued, "There were four provinces in South Africa, but now there are nine, and foreigners want to claim one of them as their own. We will then be left with eight."

While Zuma's party, the MK Party, is gaining popularity in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and parts of Gauteng, its policy positions remain somewhat elusive. The former president's proposal coincides with controversial attempts by the municipal demarcation board to alter municipal boundaries, potentially impacting the control of certain municipalities and challenging the voters' will.

Zuma's comments also address concerns about the current political landscape in the Western Cape, where the DA consistently dominates elections. He remarked, "The current arrangement (of nine provinces) has resulted in the Western Cape now having one party that keeps winning the elections there. They now think that is their country. If we say Western Cape and Eastern Cape come together, we will then have a majority that will defend the Western Cape."

This proposal comes at a time when various groups, including the Cape Independence Advocacy Group, have advocated for the secession of the Western Cape from the rest of the country. The debate surrounding the restructuring of provinces in South Africa is expected to intensify in the coming months.

Referendum Party response

The Referendum Party issued a formal response to the speech:
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"The Western Cape people, who are legally constituted in the Western Cape Constitution, have an ‘inalienable and undeniable’ right to self-determination which South Africa has repeatedly sworn to uphold.

Cape Independence is premised upon a desire for the Western Cape people, the majority of whom have never once voted ANC, to take control of their own destiny. Calls for South Africa to be intentionally restructured to prevent the Western Cape people from deciding for themselves on independence only serve to illustrate how essential independence is."

Phil Craig, who was mentioned by Jacob Zuma in the speech as a "a UK foreigner", responded in kind, by addressing Zuma's political record:

“Zuma has done more for Cape Independence than I will ever do. I immigrated to South Africa 20 years ago, and I didn’t do so with the intention of leading an independence movement. The turning point was his presidency which set South Africa on a downward spiral from which it looks unlikely to ever recover. Cape Independence is the antidote, and the Western Cape people must be allowed to decide for themselves if they want it. Polling suggests 68% of them support a referendum on Cape Independence.”