Alan Winde

Alan Richard Winde (born 18 March 1965) is a South African politician and businessman.[1] He is the 8th and current Premier of the Western Cape, having held the position since 2019. He has been a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament since 1999. Winde is a member of the Democratic Alliance.

The Honourable

Alan Winde

MPP
Winde in 2018
8th Premier of the Western Cape
Assumed office
22 May 2019
Preceded byHelen Zille
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Community Safety
In office
1 November 2018 – 22 May 2019
PremierHelen Zille
Preceded byDan Plato
Succeeded byAlbert Fritz
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Economic Opportunities
In office
26 May 2014 – 1 November 2018
PremierHelen Zille
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byBeverley Schäfer
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism
In office
7 May 2009 – 26 May 2014
PremierHelen Zille
Preceded byGarth Strachan
Succeeded byPosition dissolved
Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Assumed office
15 June 1999
Personal details
Born
Alan Richard Winde

(1965-03-18) 18 March 1965
Knysna, Cape Province, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Political partyDemocratic Alliance (2000–present)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic Party (1999–2000)
Independent (Before 1999)
Spouse(s)Tracy Winde (m. 1993)
Children2
ResidenceKnysna
Cape Town
EducationKnysna High School
ProfessionPolitician
Businessman

Born in Knysna, Winde attended Knysna High School. He established small businesses in his hometown. He started his political career as a municipal and district councillor in the early 1990s. Shortly afterwards in 1999, he was elected to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. He has held various leadership positions in the Democratic Alliance provincial parliament caucus. Winde was appointed Provincial Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism in May 2009 and served until May 2014, when he assumed the post of Provincial Minister of Economic Opportunities.[2][3]

In September 2018, the Democratic Alliance selected Winde to be the party's Western Cape Premier candidate.[4] In October 2018, Premier Helen Zille appointed Winde to the post of Provincial Minister of Community Safety. He took office on 1 November 2018. On 8 May 2019, the Democratic Alliance retained their majority in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, but with a decrease in the number of seats.[5] Winde was elected Premier on 22 May 2019, succeeding Zille. He is the second Western Cape Premier from the Democratic Alliance.[6]

Early life and business career

Alan Richard Winde was born on 18 March 1965 in Knysna to Ingrid and William Dave Winde.[7][8] He attended and matriculated from Knysna High School. Winde started many small businesses that specialised in printing, selling bicycles, courier services and boat parts in Knysna. He later worked as a business consultant for Aldes Business Brokers, a South African Top 100 Company.[9]

Political career

Early political career

Winde ran as an independent candidate and was elected to the South Cape District Council in 1996. He had previously served as a councillor for the Outeniqua Rural Council.[10]

Winde as Provincial Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism in 2013

Shortly after being elected a district councillor, the Democratic Party recruited him to be a candidate for the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. He was elected in the 1999 general election. He took office as a Member on 15 June 2009.[11]

During his first term, he served as Western Cape Provincial Finance Chairman and a Member of the Executive Committee. He returned to the Provincial Parliament following the 2004 general election. Briefly, before being re-elected in 2009, he served as Chief Whip of the Official Opposition, Party Spokesperson on Environment and Planning and Deputy Party Spokesperson on Economic Development and Tourism.[11]

Provincial ministerships

Premier Helen Zille appointed Winde to the position of Provincial Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism following his re-election in May 2009.[12] Constitutional Court Judge Yvonne Mokgoro swore him in as Provincial Minister on 7 May 2009. He consequently succeeded Garth Strachan.[13]

During his tenure, he criticised immigration regulations introduced by the national government, which he alleged had harmed tourism growth in the Western Cape, and organised petitions against the regulations.[14]

After the 2014 election, Zille announced that Winde would now hold the title of Provincial Minister of Economic Opportunities and only lead the Provincial Departments of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism. The Provincial Finance Department would be an independent department with its own Provincial Minister.[15] Western Cape Deputy Judge President Jeanette Traverso swore him in on 26 May 2014.[16]

As Provincial Minister of Economic Opportunities, Winde announced in 2017 that during the First Thursday event in Cape Town, the provincial government would host talk shops where people could directly interact with government officials.[17] During the drought that ravaged the Western Cape province from 2017 to 2018, he argued for farmers to keep hold of their private agricultural water supply, even if their local municipalities had a shortage of water.[18]

Zille announced in October 2018 that Winde would move to the Provincial Community Safety Department as incumbent Provincial Minister Dan Plato had announced his intention to resign.[19][20] Winde was succeeded by Beverley Schäfer on 1 November 2018. He subsequently assumed the post of Provincial Minister of Community Safety.[21]

Winde has served as acting Premier of the Western Cape on various brief occasions when Zille was unavailable. In February 2019, Zille was in Germany, and so was sworn in as acting premier. He consequently represented the provincial government at the State of the Nation Address held in the same month.[22]

2019 electoral campaign
See also: 2019 Western Cape provincial election
Alan Winde for Premier campaign bus, which was unveiled in April 2019.

Winde emerged as the front-runner quite early on in the Democratic Alliance selection process for candidates for Western Cape Premier.[23] On 19 September 2018, Democratic Alliance Federal Leader, Mmusi Maimane, announced Winde as the party's candidate to succeed Zille after the 2019 elections. Winde defeated prominent candidates such as the Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape, Bonginkosi Madikizela, and Member of Parliament David Maynier in an internal party vote.[24] The Democratic Alliance won a majority in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, but with a decrease in the number of seats, on 8 May 2019.[25]

Premiership

Winde was elected Premier of the Western Cape on 22 May 2019 during the first sitting of the Sixth Provincial Parliament and accordingly became the second Democratic Alliance member to hold the office. He received 24 out of the 34 valid votes. Six ballots were spoilt, and there were two abstentions. His main challenger for the post was Cameron Dugmore of the African National Congress, who received 10 out of the 34 valid votes.[26][27][28]

Winde announced the formation of his Provincial Cabinet on 23 May 2019. He retained four ministers in their existing portfolios, while he moved three to other portfolios and appointed three new members. He appointed former DA Member of Parliament and premier candidate contender, David Maynier, to the post of Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, while he moved Albert Fritz and Ivan Meyer to the posts of Provincial Minister of Community Safety and Provincial Minister of Agriculture, respectively. Winde also said that all the newly-appointed cabinet members would undergo lifestyle audits.[29]

National Police Minister Bheki Cele announced on 11 July 2019, that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) would be deployed in the gang-ridden areas of Cape Town. Winde welcomed the deployment of SANDF. His predecessor, Helen Zille, had repeatedly asked for the deployment of SANDF during her tenure. The deployment came into effect on 18 July 2019 and was set to end on 16 September 2019. However, Winde wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa and Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula in mid-September 2019 to request that the SANDF deployment in Cape Town be extended,[30] stating that it was necessary to bring stability.[31] The cabinet granted the request and the deployment ended in March 2020.[32][33]

Winde delivered his maiden State of the Province Address on 18 July 2019, in which he highlighted the provincial government's achievements and outlined his agenda.[34] Also in the speech, Winde placed emphasis on the provincial crime and misconduct statistics and claimed that the police "had lost the war on crime" because of mismanagement.[35][36]

Winde and Provincial Minister of Community Safety Albert Fritz announced on 19 September 2019 that the provincial government would annually be investing R1 billion (US$67.3 million) for three years into the training and deployment of 3,000 safety officers and 150 investigators. A total of 500 safety officers were deployed in February 2020.[37][38] The safety plan aims to halve the province's crime statistics within the next decade. Fritz added that the provincial government would also establish an integrated violence prevention programme.[39][40][41]

On 22 October 2019, he appointed Harry Malila as the new Director-General of the Western Cape Provincial Government. Malila succeeded long-serving Brent Gerber.[42]

Personal life

Winde married his wife Tracy in 1993. They have two children and live in the suburb of Claremont, Cape Town. Winde's son is studying sound engineering while his daughter is still in high school. Winde is a member of his daughter's school governing body.[43]

Winde was exposed to a positive case of COVID-19 in March 2020. He consequently worked from home as medical experts advised him not to go into self-isolation or be tested.[44] On 13 May, Winde announced that he would self-quarantine after his contact with eNCA cameraman Lungile Tom.[45][46] On 8 July, Winde announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19, and would be self-isolating.[47]

References
  1. Ngcobo, Khanyisile. Alan Winde named DA's Western Cape premier candidate, IOL, Western Cape, 19 September 2018. Retrieved on 30 September 2018.
  2. Zille appoints Western Cape Cabinet, Mail & Guardian. Retrieved on 28 March 2019.
  3. Donnelly, Lynley (21 May 2014). "Zille adds two women to Western Cape cabinet". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  4. Alan Winde named DA candidate to take over from Helen Zille as premier, TimesLIVE, 19 September 2018. Retrieved on 28 March 2019.
  5. Makinana, Andisiwe. It's official: The Democratic Alliance has won the Western Cape, TimesLIVE, 10 May 2019. Retrieved on 10 May 2019.
  6. Le Roux, Nckey (13 May 2019). "Winde formally elected as Premier on 22 May". George Herald. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  7. "Winde se pa oorlede". Son Digitaal (in Afrikaans). 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  8. "MIN 2019-08-01 - Western Cape Provincial Parliament" (PDF). wcpp.gov.za. Retrieved 1 May 2020. That the House extends our sincere condolences to Premier Alan Winde and his family on the passing of his beloved father, William Dave Winde. We extend our sympathies to the entire Winde family, especially to Premier Winde’s mother, Ingrid Winde, and their friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this time of grief and mourning. I so move.
  9. "Alan Winde named as DA's WC candidate for premier". EWN. Cape Town. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2020. Winde also has experience as an entrepreneur, having started up a number of small businesses, as a director of a tour company, and as a business broker with Aldes Business Brokers, a South African Top 100 Company.
  10. Selisho, Kaunda (19 September 2018). "Alan Winde announced as DA premier candidate for Western Cape". The Citizen. Retrieved 2 May 2020. He started out in politics as a councillor in the Outeniqua Rural Council and the South Cape District Council.
  11. Gerber, Jan (19 September 2018). "DA WC premier candidate Winde shrugs off race questions, wants to build a team". News24. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  12. "Zille appoints all-male Cabinet". News24. Cape Town. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  13. Appointment of the Western Cape Provincial Cabinet, Western Cape Government, 7 May 2009. Retrieved on 9 February 2019.
  14. Regulations detrimental to economy: Winde, Voice of the Cape, 3 September 2014. Retrieved on 3 July 2019.
  15. Williams, Murray (21 May 2014). "Premier Zille's new Cape cabinet". IOL. Cape Town. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  16. Premier Helen Zille Announces New Cabinet, Western Cape Government, 21 May 2014. Retrieved on 9 February 2019.
  17. Gitawu, Mwangi (4 July 2019). "WATCH: Winde announces when legislature will be open for First Thursday walk-ins". IOL. Retrieved 30 April 2020. Winde first tried out the First Thursday’s initiative in 2017 when he was MEC for Economic Opportunities. At that time he moved to a government building in Long Street and joined the already existing and popular First Thursday initiative, where all the local art galleries in the CBD are open to the public until 9pm.
  18. Head, Tom. Breaking: Alan Winde revealed as the DA’s choice for Western Cape premier, The South African, 19 September 2018. Retrieved on 10 February 2019.
  19. Thaw, Regan (19 October 2018). "Alan Winde to take over WC Community Safety portfolio". EWN. Cape Town. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  20. "Alan Winde replacing Dan Plato as community safety MEC". IOL. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  21. "Western Cape Economic Development on swearing in of MEC Beverley Schäfer". South African Government. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  22. SONA 2019: From 'Thuma Mina' to 'New Dawn Fades' as Bosasa casts a shadow, News24, 8 February 2019. Retrieved on 10 February 2019.
  23. Felix, Jason (18 June 2018). "Who wants to be the Western Cape's next". IOL. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  24. Davis, Rebecca (19 September 2019). "DA picks Alan Winde as Western Cape Premier candidate". The Daily Maverick. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  25. LIVE: DA secures majority again in Western Cape election results, The Citizen, 10 May 2019. Retrieved on 10 May 2019.
  26. Lee, Samantha. Winde elected Western Cape premier, News24, 22 May 2019. Retrieved on 22 May 2019.
  27. Mortlock, Monique. DA's Winde elected as new WC premier, Cape Town, EWN, 22 May 2019. Retrieved on 25 May 2019.
  28. Winde elected Western Cape premier, The Citizen, 22 May 2019. Retrieved on 25 May 2019.
  30. Van Diemen, Ethan. SANDF's deployment to Cape Flats: Cabinet to 'assess situation' after Premier Winde calls for an extension, News24, 10 September 2019. Retrieved on 20 September 2019.
  31. Etheridge, Jenna. 'Still a massive hill to climb' - Winde's reasons for wanting army to stay extra 6 months, News24, 11 September 2019. Retrieved on 20 September 2019.
  32. Winde, Fritz welcome SANDF's extended stay, but want to see a few changes, News24, 16 September 2019. Retrieved on 20 September 2019.
  33. Evans, Jenni. SANDF's deployment in Western Cape extended to March 2020, News24, 16 September 2019. Retrieved on 20 September 2019.
  34. Felix, Jason (18 July 2019). "Winde announces new interventions to help boost WC economy". EWN. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  35. Police have lost the war on crime in the Western Cape, says Winde, The Citizen, 18 July 2019. Retrieved on 18 July 2019.
  36. Evans, Jenni. Western Cape govt mulling court action over control of SAPS in province, News24, 18 July 2019. Retrieved on 18 July 2019.
  37. Felix, Jason (4 December 2019). "WC provincial police service set to be deployed in February". EWN. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  38. Evans, Jenni (10 February 2020). "500 new law enforcement officers deployed to crime hot spots in Cape Town". News24. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  39. Somdyala, Kamva. Winde's R1bn safety plan: 3 000 new law enforcement officers, 150 investigators, News24, 19 September 2019. Retrieved on 23 September 2019.
  40. Buhle, Lindwa. Western Cape’s crime-fighting plan: R1-billion, 3000 new officers and more, The South African, 19 September 2019. Retrieved on 23 September 2019.
  41. Winde to appoint 3000 new officers in three-year WC safety plan, www.702.co.za, 19 September 2019. Retrieved on 23 September 2019.
  42. "WATCH: Harry Malila appointed as Western Cape director-general". IOL. Cape Town. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  43. Lepule, Tshego (12 May 2019). "#SAElectionResults2019: I am no Zille, says Alan Winde". IOL. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  44. Khan, Tamar (18 March 2020). "Western Cape Health MEC in self-isolation after contact with Covid-19 case". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  45. "Premier Alan Winde to self-quarantine after exposure to positive Covid-19 case". IOL. Cape Town. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  46. Chambers, Dave (13 May 2020). "Ramaphosa's trip to Western Cape off after premier goes into quarantine". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  47. "Western Cape Premier Alan Winde tests positive for Covid-19 | News24". News24. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
Helen Zille		 8th Premier of the Western Cape
2019–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Dan Plato		 Western Cape Provincial Minister of Community Safety
2018–2019		 Succeeded by
Albert Fritz
Preceded by
Position established		 Western Cape Provincial Minister of Economic Opportunities
2014–2018		 Succeeded by
Beverley Schäfer
Preceded by
Garth Strachan		 Western Cape Provincial Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism
2009–2014		 Succeeded by
Position dissolved
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