ANC calls on Premier Alan Winde to resign as it rejects budget vote

The ANC caucus in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature has rejected the Budget Vote for the Department of the Premier, sharply criticising Premier Alan Winde’s leadership and calling for his immediate resignation.

In a statement on Tuesday, the party said the rejection was based on what it described as a deepening crisis of accountability and a widening gap between government policy and delivery under the DA-led provincial administration.

The ANC pointed to findings by the Legislature’s Conduct Committee, which concluded that Winde breached the Members’ Code of Conduct by failing to declare sponsored international travel. The party said the outcome raised serious concerns about ethical leadership at the highest level of provincial government.

“A government that claims to be building trust cannot do so while its leader has been found guilty of ethical misconduct,” the ANC said, adding that accountability must be consistent and not selective.

The caucus also accused the Democratic Alliance of deflecting from the issue by targeting opposition members, rather than addressing shortcomings within its own ranks.

Beyond governance concerns, the ANC criticised budget allocations within the Department of the Premier, arguing that spending priorities were skewed towards planning and administrative functions rather than tangible service delivery.

It cited R49 million allocated to policy and strategy functions and R16.12 million earmarked for energy coordination, saying these lacked clear outcomes that would directly improve residents’ lives, particularly in the context of ongoing energy challenges.

The party further raised concerns about the province’s readiness to respond to global economic pressures, including rising fuel and food costs linked to geopolitical tensions. It argued that the provincial government had not presented a coherent strategy to mitigate risks or capitalise on potential opportunities in trade, tourism and agriculture.

On digital infrastructure, the ANC acknowledged the R1.436 billion allocation to the Centre for e-Innovation but said the benefits were not reaching underserved communities. It referenced a recent prolonged internet outage at a school as an example of gaps in implementation.

The caucus also criticised the continued use of a 2013 Youth Development Strategy, arguing that it was outdated in the face of rising youth unemployment and changing economic conditions.