Western Cape Premier Alan Winde is facing scrutiny after the ANC Caucus accused him of failing to declare that his flight to New York for Climate Week NYC 2024 was paid for by the Under2 Coalition.
The ANC confirmed it will write to the Registrar of Members’ Interests to request an investigation into what it calls a breach of the legislature’s Code of Conduct.
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In response, Winde’s office maintained that the trip was fully disclosed in the Department of the Premier’s 2024/2025 Annual Report, insisting that no personal gift or sponsorship was received.
Questions Raised Over Transparency and Accountability
ANC leader of the opposition Khalid Sayed said while the department’s annual report reflected the sponsored flight, the same information was missing from the Register of Members’ Interests.
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“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’, the Under2 Coalition covered the cost of an economy class ticket worth R51,000 for Winde to attend the event in New York from 22–25 September last year.
However, Winde’s official declaration of interests, submitted earlier this year, left the section on overseas travel not fully paid for by him blank.
Opposition Calls for Public Protector’s Intervention
Sayed said the omission casts “doubt on the credibility” of the annual report and questions the DA-led government’s claims of accountability.
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“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,” he said.
Winde’s spokesperson, Regan Thaw, reiterated that the trip was “duly disclosed” and that Winde did not personally receive any sponsorship.
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“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,” said Thaw.
GOOD Party secretary-general Brett Herron added that if the Premier failed to declare the sponsored trip, it would be a “serious violation” of 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,” said Herron.
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