South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has firmly dismissed any possibility of a referendum on secession of the Western Cape or any other part of the country, reinforcing that the republic will remain “one, sovereign, democratic state” as enshrined in the Constitution.

Responding to questions in Parliament from opposition MPs this week, Ramaphosa said no component of the Government of National Unity (GNU) has asked him to pursue a referendum on secession, and that he has no intention of considering such a proposal.

“The founding provisions of our Constitution state that the Republic of South Africa is one, sovereign, democratic state,” Ramaphosa said, stressing that his constitutional duty is to uphold, defend and promote unity across the nation.

The issue of Western Cape independence has periodically surfaced in political debate, with groups such as the Cape Independence Advocacy Group and CapeXit arguing for greater autonomy or even secession based on cultural, economic and political grievances. Polling data suggests some Western Cape residents support the idea of holding a referendum or even independence, but such proposals have not gained official legislative traction.

Ramaphosa’s comments also touched on other constitutional matters, including clarifying that dual citizenship does not affect Cabinet appointments and that Cabinet ministers meet all eligibility requirements under the Constitution.

Opposition parties such as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) raised the issue in Parliament as part of broader questions on national governance. Ramaphosa reiterated that constitutional unity outweighs calls for fragmentation, and that any referendum on secession would contradict the core legal framework of the republic.

Legal experts note that while Section 235 of the Constitution acknowledges the right to self-determination, this has not translated into a clear legal path for secession without broad national consensus and legislative change.

The debate reflects deeper political tensions in South Africa, particularly in provinces that have often voted against the ruling party in national elections. Despite these undercurrents, the president’s stance makes clear that move toward formal secession or constitutional referendums on independence will not be pursued by the current government.

Ramaphosa concluded that South Africa’s future must be shaped through constitutional processes and collaborative governance, reinforcing national cohesion over divisive separatist proposals.