ANC wants Premier Alan Winde probed for alleged failure to declare sponsored overseas trip

WESTERN Cape Premier Alan Winde has come under fire for allegedly failing to properly declare that his flight to New York for Climate Week NYC 2024 was funded by the Under2 Coalition.

The ANC Caucus in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature said it was planning to write to the Registrar of Members’ Interests to launch an investigation into the matter. 

In response, Winde's office maintained the trip was duly disclosed in the annual report and no gift or sponsorship was received in his personal capacity. 

ANC leader of the opposition, Khalid Sayed said while the information about the trip appeared in the Department of the Premier’s 2024/2025 Annual Report, it was not reflected in the Register of Members’ Interests as required by the Code of Conduct for Members of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature.

"This raises questions about transparency and accountability. The Code of Conduct clearly stipulates that members must declare all gifts, sponsorships, or benefits, including sponsored travel, to prevent any perception of conflict of interest or undue influence,” said Sayed. 

According to the annual report under the section “Donations and sponsorships received in-kind from non-related parties,” Under2Coalition covered the costs of an economy class ticket for Winde at R51 000, to attend the conference held in New York from September 22 - 25, last year.

However, in Winde’s declaration of interests submitted earlier this year, the section concerning overseas travel not fully paid for by him was left blank.

Sayed lamented this, saying it casts “doubt on the credibility” of the Department of the Premier’s Annual Report itself “as it is meant to reflect full transparency in how this department conducts their affairs”.

“The inconsistency between the political principal's non-disclosure and the department’s reporting raises concerns about whether the DA-led provincial government’s claims of clean and accountable governance exist only on paper, while compliance in practice is neglected. The ANC Caucus will therefore write to the Registrar of Members’ Interests to request an investigation into this alleged breach,” he said. 

 Winde's spokesperson Regan Thaw said: “This trip was duly disclosed in the annual report. No gift or sponsorship was received in the Premier’s personal capacity. The co-funder for the travel to NY Climate Week in 2024 was the Under2 Coalition - an important regional organisation made up of 183 states and regions leading on climate action. Premier Winde currently serves as co-chair of the organisation, representing the African continent.” 

Weighing in on the matter, GOOD party secretary-general, Brett Herron said if the Premier failed to declare a sponsored trip then he breached the Executive Ethics Act and Code of Conduct.

“This would be a serious violation of the Act and yet another example that the DA’s claim of good governance is false and selective. The Premier needs to be reported to the Public Protector, who has the legal duty to investigate breaches like this,” Herron said.