Premier Alan Winde reported to Public Protector over undeclared sponsored trip

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde is facing a formal complaint lodged with the Office of the Public Protector after he allegedly failed to disclose a sponsored foreign trip valued at R51 000. The complaint, submitted by Western Cape Opposition Leader Khalid Sayed, accuses the Premier of violating the Executive Ethics Code by omitting the benefit from his official declaration of interests.

Sayed filed the complaint on Wednesday, arguing that the Premier’s non disclosure raises serious questions about transparency and the ethical obligations of the province’s highest elected office.

According to the Department of the Premier’s 2024 and 2025 Annual Report, the UnderCoalition funded an economy class flight for Winde to attend Climate Week NYC in New York from 22 to 25 September 2024. The report places the value of the sponsored travel at R51 000. The entity is described as an external non governmental organisation.

However, Sayed contends that no record of this sponsored travel appears in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament’s register of members interests for the 2024 and 2025 period. The register requires members of the Executive to disclose any sponsored foreign travel, gifts or benefits received outside of official state funded work. Under the Executive Ethics Code, foreign travel sponsored by third parties must be declared with both the nature of the trip and the identity of the sponsor.

Sayed says the Premier’s omission represents a breach of section 6.5 of the Executive Ethics Code which deals specifically with foreign travel not paid for by the state or the member’s political party. He argues that the Premier’s conduct also contravenes the ethical duties laid out in the Executive Members Ethics Act, which requires members of the Executive to act in good faith and avoid any conduct that could create conflicts between public responsibilities and private benefits.

In his complaint Sayed cites the Constitution, the Executive Members Ethics Act and the Executive Ethics Code, arguing that Winde’s failure to declare the sponsored trip undermines principles of accountability and good governance. The complaint also warns that such omissions expose members of the Executive to potential conflicts of interest.

Sayed has requested that the Public Protector investigate the Premier’s conduct as required under section 3 of the Executive Members Ethics Act. Should the investigation find that Winde breached the Ethics Code, the Public Protector must submit a report to the President who is then required to table the findings before the National Council of Provinces.

The relief sought includes a formal finding of breach, referral to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament’s Conduct Committee and recommendations to strengthen compliance and improve transparency in future declarations by the Premier and his Executive.

Sayed insists the complaint is made in the public interest and out of concern for governance standards in the Western Cape.

Premier Winde’s office had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.

The Public Protector’s office is now expected to assess the complaint and determine the next steps in accordance with statutory timelines.