Western Cape Premier Alan Winde. Image: Twitter.com/ Alan Winde
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde. Image: Twitter.com/ Alan Winde
Western Cape premier Alan Winde has announced on Tuesday 4 August that his provincial cabinet has received a clean bill of financial health after each member underwent a lifestyle audit to ensure that they are living a lifestyle in line with their income and that there were no conflicts of interests.
He said that the report, handed over by Nexus Forensic Services, demonstrated his commitment to one of the primary pillars he promised to maintain when he became Provincial Premier in 2019.
Western Cape Cabinet receive clean lifestyle audits across the board
Winde was among the entirety of his cabinet who underwent the lifestyle audits, with Intelligence Searches (BIS) being conducted on them and their spouses and partners, as well as questionnaires and requested supporting documents for the declarations made on the questionnaires. Finally, Nexus analysed each members’ bank statements with the reports.
The audits were conducted Nexus Forensic Services, an independent contractor appointed through an open tender process, and they covered a two year period from June 1 2017 up to 31 May 2019 (when the cabinet was appointed).
The report ultimately revealing that money generated by the province was being administered without conflict of interests.
Winde said that he is proud that his goals of transparency and clean governance are being actualised.
“When I became Premier last year, I committed to clean and open governance,” he said.
“One of my commitments was lifestyle audits for all members of my cabinet and I am pleased to say that I have received and studied the final report which shows that all members of cabinet and their spouses live a lifestyle in line with their income and that there were no conflicts of interest.”
Winde pleased with achievement of goals
Winde did say that Nexus had advised Director General, Harry Malila, to request members of the executive to declare interests in any dormant or non-active business entities, in line with best practice.
“In the interests of full transparency, the Director General will be doing this,” said Winde.
With the country currently engulfed in controversy surrounding corrupt tender allocation relating to COVID-19 funding for personal protective equipment (PPE), among a host of other allegations of maladministration, the report will come as a relief to Winde and his government, who appear to have remain unentangled, so to speak.
“The final report found that all ministers and their spouses led lifestyles commensurate with their income during the two year period and did not pick up any conflicts of interest.”
“I am pleased by this outcome and that we have been able to complete this process. We may be in the midst of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, but we continue to deliver on government services and the commitments I made to the people of this province.”
