Phil Craig: What you need to know about the man at the centre of a citizenship row in SA

The citizenship status of Phil Craig, a British national and key figure in the Cape independence movement, will soon come under scrutiny during a meeting of parliament’s portfolio committee on home affairs.

Craig is the leader of the Referendum Party and co-founder and spokesperson for the Cape Independence Advocacy Group, based in the Western Cape.

Five interesting things about him

• Craig has been in South Africa for more than 20 years with no citizenship
• He has had a petition calling for his deportation, which gained nearly 50 000 signatures
• He writes for the Daily Friend
• His Referendum Party proposed a non-racialism bill
• He advocated for the cessation of the Western Cape

ALSO READ: Presidency responds to questions about the citizenship of Cape Independence’s Phil Craig

Citizenship status

The Presidency has publicly confirmed that Craig is not a South African citizen.

“Phil Craig is not a citizen of South Africa; he’s still a permanent resident and has yet to be naturalised. It is a concern that someone who has left his own country of birth has come to SA to sow seeds of division as he has been doing,” said Magwenya in March this year.

This came after Craig sparked controversy for allegedly leading a movement which the Presidency deemed divisive.

Magwenya further said, “It is perplexing why he seeks citizenship when his views or intentions are to divide the country. We will not allow him to do that. He can travel the world seeking support for his ideas. It will not happen now or any other time.”

Speaking to The Citizen in March this year, Craig said he had every right to interfere in South African politics like anyone else.

In response to earlier accusations of leading a racist movement, Craig dismissed the claims, stating,“Only in South Africa is the author of a non-racialism bill, which seeks to end all race-based policy in South Africa, routinely accused of being racist.”

“My rights, just as for anyone else, are enshrined in the constitution, and I am fully entitled to exercise them. Opponents of Cape Independence should focus much more on the process; when they do, they will realise I am not the issue.”