Tourism Minister defends SA Tourism amid governance turmoil
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos on Wednesday, De Lille said criticism of SA Tourism was unfounded and ignored the progress made since the appointment of an interim board.
Image: Siphelele Dludla / Independent Newspapers
In a robust defence of the governance and stability of South Africa Tourism (SA Tourism), Minister Patricia de Lille has dismissed allegations that her recent interventions undermined the entity's autonomy, especially in the wake of a significant restructuring.
As reported by Business Report, the aftermath of a dissolved board and the suspension of chief executive officer, Nombulelo Guliwe, has highlighted critical concerns regarding the future of the country's tourism marketing agency.
The scrutiny intensified when Democratic Alliance’s spokesperson on tourism, Haseena Ismail, raised alarms in Parliament about SA Tourism's ability to effectively manage its flagship event, Meetings Africa.
With less than a month until the Pan-African business events trade show, which is vital for securing future business on the continent, Ismail expressed distress over the absence of an appointed events management partner, Business Report reported.
“This situation could lead to severe reputational damage to South Africa’s tourism and business events sector,” Ismail noted, further questioning the competence behind recent board appointments.
Of particular concern to her was the inclusion of Khomotso Brian Mosehla, whose prior partnerships with the controversial Cash Paymaster Services, which was unjustly awarded the SASSA social grants contract in 2012, stirred discontent amongst stakeholders.
In an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, de Lille refuted claims of instability and insisted on the progress made since the establishment of an interim board.
“It is nonsense. The reasons for dissolving the previous board remain before the courts, but I acted promptly to ensure governance stability,” she asserted, pointing to new appointments and the filling of critical vacancies including the chief financial officer and the head of internal audit.
De Lille maintained that there has never been a crisis at SA Tourism, highlighting that annual performance plans ensure continuity in governance. “We all have our medium-term development plans. It simply requires effective leadership to implement these directives,” she stated.
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised a comprehensive investigation into SA Tourism by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), further underscoring the entity’s precarious situation. The SIU will scrutinise allegations of maladministration and potential corruption in media buying services linked to questionable invoices and purchase orders.
This investigation comes on the heels of the previous board's leadership turmoil, which saw Guliwe’s suspension over financial misconduct allegations that included a disputed R4.1 million prepayment for uncompleted work. In the wake of mounting controversies, the presidency aims to establish accountability and, if necessary, recover financial losses incurred by the state.
As the tourism sector looks ahead, recovery and stability remain paramount, emphasising the need for clear governance structures and competent leadership to rebuild confidence amid an ever-changing landscape.
IOL