Premier Alan Winde.
Image: Supplied
Premier Alan Winde has indicated his intent to appeal the Provincial Parliament’s Conduct Committee findings that he breached the Code of Conduct by failing to disclose sponsored foreign travel to the United States.
This comes as opposition parties in the Western Cape have intensified calls for Winde to face consequences, with the ANC in the province describing the outcome as "a victory for ANC-led public accountability and oversight in the provincial government".
The calls come just days after Winde delivered his State of the Province Address (SOPA), where he reaffirmed the DA's commitment to clean governance, transparency and ethical leadership, principles that opposition parties say stand in direct contrast to the committee’s findings.
The ANC Caucus in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature said the committee confirmed that Winde had violated Paragraphs 12(9) and 3(7) of the Code by not declaring the sponsored trip in the Register of Members’ Interests.
ANC Western Cape spokesperson Khalid Sayed said the finding highlighted deeper governance problems under the DA administration.
He insisted that consequences must follow.
"There must be consequences for the premier from within the institutions of provincial government and politically by his party, provincially and nationally," Sayed said.
The ANC said it expected national DA leaders to indicate "in the strongest possible terms" how Winde would be dealt with.
"Premier Winde’s non-disclosure violates public trust, economic and investor confidence in his leadership and his government. It was not an omission. It was blatant dishonesty," Sayed said.
He said the ANC expected Winde "to do the honourable thing, by way of admission of guilt, remedial disclosure as a corrective measure, public apology, and ultimately resign, or for the DA to recall him from government immediately".
The ANC called on all members of the legislature, including the DA, to vote in favour of the report and "reaffirm that no one is above the rules of the legislature".
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the province also condemned Winde’s conduct, describing it as a serious ethical breach. The party said the findings showed the failure to disclose the sponsored 2024 trip to New York was "not a minor administrative oversight” but “a deliberate, blatant violation of the ethical standards".
The SACP called for Winde’s immediate suspension pending further investigation.
"We further demand that the relevant law enforcement authorities conduct a thorough and uncompromising investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sponsorship of this trip," the party said.
While noting that the DA voted in favour of adopting the Conduct Committee’s report, the SACP said this did not absolve the party of responsibility.
Winde’s spokesperson, Regan Thaw, maintained that the trip had been disclosed in the annual report and that no gift or sponsorship was received in the premier’s personal capacity.
“The co-funder for the trip was Under2Coalition. The premier currently serves as co-chair of the organisation, representing the African continent,” Thaw said.
He added that the premier intends to appeal the committee’s findings.
DA Western Cape spokesperson Matthew Sims did not provide details on what action, if any, the party would take against Winde. In response to media questions about consequences, Sims asked whether there would also be coverage on other public representatives, but offered no further comment after follow-up calls and messages.
Cape Times