Premier Winde’s 'undeclared' sponsored New York flight saga far from over

PREMIER Alan Winde’s ‘undeclared’ sponsored flight to New York for Climate Week 2024 came under scrutiny when members of the provincial legislature demanded clarity when they were deliberating on the Department of Premier’s annual report on Tuesday. 

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

However this donation was not declared in the Register of Members’ Interests which has raised concerns about transparency and accountability. 

During deliberations on Tuesday, director general Dr Harry Malila said the money was donated to the government and not to Winde in his personal capacity. 

“As an accounting officer, my role is to disclose any donation that comes to the department. I want to indicate to this committee (that) it's to the department, it's an actual donation to the government, it's not to a person. It's not to the premier, it's not to the staff members. Last year the premier embarked upon an official trip to the US in September as part of his responsibilities as the co-chair for the Under2Coalition. That was to attend the New York Climate week. 

"This entire trip was paid for by Western Cape Government. No external institution paid any amounts in relation to this trip. We paid for it. We paid for the premier, we paid for the officials to attend the New York Climate Week. The department was reimbursed with the price of an economy class ticket but that was a reimbursement to the government because the government has already paid for the ticket and all the expenditure,” he said. 

However, GOOD MPL Brett Herron pushed back, questioning why the DG's description differed from the account presented in the annual report. 

“The way it's described in the report in my view does trigger the executive ethics act and code obligation to declare this in the members' or Premier's personal declaration.. So the way the DG’s described it now, this was actually a reimbursement of part of the costs that the whole department incurred. The description doesn't match the way you’ve described it now. So either we have to amend this so that it's accurate or the Premier has a problem with his declaration in terms of the Executive Ethics Act,” said Herron. 

ANC MPL Pat Lekker echoed Herron’s sentiment adding, “what has been written on our document is not (in line with) the explanation the DG has given to us”. 

Malila maintained: “I am definitely convinced that the way we have disclosed it is correct.” 

Committee chairperson Thomas Walters suggested that maybe a legal opinion was needed for clarity. However, Winde said the matter needed to be brought before the registrar for clarity.

“I don't think a legal opinion is necessary, I don't think we need to change the wording. I think what we need to do is set up an official meeting between the registrar, I'll join the meeting and the DG and the legal team and say this is how it's interpreted for declaration to the registrar, tell us what you think,” he said. 

The committee concluded that they would need to seek further feedback to determine whether the report should be corrected to accurately reflect the donation or if any additional action was required, including possible implications for processes elsewhere.

Under2Coalition did not respond to requests for comment on the donation by deadline.

Cape Times