Alan Winde ‘maintaining his silence’ to protect ‘victim’ MEC Albert Fritz

Western Cape premier Alan Winde's handling of suspended Western Cape community safety MEC Albert Fritz has come under scrutiny and sparked debate.

Fritz, 62, was suspended by Winde last Sunday, with the premier saying he had received information about alleged misconduct by the MEC.

The Sunday Times had seen a thread of messages between Fritz and one of his alleged victims, who appeared to work in his department, where Fritz persistently begs the woman to come to his room and urges her to make up a story for her companions about why she is leaving them. 

When it became clear that the woman was not coming, Fritz told her to “f**k off”.

The woman responds by asking Fritz to move her elsewhere within his department.

Winde said the allegations were first brought to his attention “by a third party informally on 23 November 2021”.

“The allegations were shared with me under the strictest of confidence. They differed in nature but were all very serious. I promised the complainants that I would not divulge their allegations publicly, but that I would act as swiftly as possible.

“I immediately sought legal counsel and nine days after the first accounts were shared with me directly, I suspended the minister and initiated an independent, external investigation into his conduct. I also encouraged the complainants to lay charges with the police, when they felt ready to do so,” he told the Sunday Times.

He said other individuals indicated that they would like to come forward too, and legal services had taken their accounts down.

However, Winde's handling of the situation has been criticised by some, including the ANC in the Western Cape and Good party secretary-general Brett Herron.

Herron said the allegations against Fritz should be investigated by police, not the premier.

“This is no time for damage control by the premier, Winde, who claims to lead a government of integrity,” he said.

“Fritz must be investigated by competent and independent authorities. That is the role of the police, not an investigator answerable to the premier.”