According to the DA, Alan Winde attended Climate Week NYC 2024 as a representative from Africa in his capacity as a co-chair, and not in a personal capacity.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers
The DA has voiced support for its member, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, backing his version of events regarding his attendance at Climate Week 2024 in New York.
According to the party, Winde did in fact attend the Climate Week NYC 2024 event as a representative from Africa in his capacity as a co-chair, and not in a personal capacity.
The DA said the premier had been invited to the event and confirmed that the trip was co-funded by the Under2 Coalition.
The party’s response follows renewed calls from opposition parties in the Western Cape for the premier to resign.
The calls come after the Western Cape Provincial Parliament Conduct Committee found that Winde breached the Code of Conduct by failing to disclose sponsored foreign travel to the United States.
In its response, the DA reiterated that "there is no gift or sponsorship that was received by the premier in his personal capacity", adding that the travel arrangement had been only partially funded by the Under2 Coalition.
The party confirmed that Winde will appeal the committee’s findings, describing the investigation as politically motivated.
DA spokesperson Matthew Sims said the matter was being framed unfairly. "This matter is also seen as cheap political point-scoring by the ANC and an attack on the premier’s integrity."
Sims emphasised the importance of allowing due process. "It is also important to respect the rule of law and allow the premier’s appeal process to run its course before a final judgment is made."
The party has not yet confirmed whether there will be any internal consequences or actions taken against Winde while the appeal process is under way.
Meanwhile, the ANC caucus in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature said the committee’s findings confirmed that Winde had violated Paragraphs 12(9) and 3(7) of the Code by failing to declare the sponsored trip in the Register of Members’ Interests.
Khalid Sayed, leader of the opposition in the Western Cape Legislature, described the outcome as a victory for public accountability and oversight.
"By leading the charge on these issues, the ANC as the official opposition in the Western Cape has acted in the public interest," Sayed said.
"The legislature is the custodian of the public interest in the province."