Cape Town — Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lille is expected to dissolve the SA Tourism board on Friday.
She said that she will officially appoint a three-member team to manage the affairs of the board until the appointment of a new board.
“In all the circumstances, I believe that good cause exists to dissolve the Board and I shall do so officially through the Government Gazette on Friday, 21 April 2023.
“I will also officially gazette the appointment of a team of three persons to manage the affairs of the Board until the appointment of a new Board. This appointment is to be made under Section 16 (3) (b) of the Tourism Act,” said De Lille.
She revealed that she wrote a letter to the then-chairperson of the SA Tourism Board, Dr Thozamile Botha asking for representation on why she should not dissolve the Board in terms of her powers under the Tourism Act.
“My letter outlined a number of serious concerns, such as the conduct of the Board in respect of the Tottenham Hotspur sponsorship matter; the composition of the Board and whether the members have the necessary knowledge, experience or qualifications as required by Section 13 of the Tourism Act; and certain serious allegations raised by the Acting CEO of SA Tourism regarding the lack of a proper functioning Board,” the Tourism Minister said.
She added that in her letter, she requested the SA Tourism Board Chairperson to respond to her in writing by 18 April 2023.
Media Statement: Update on SA Tourism Board. Interim board to be appointed at the end of the week. pic.twitter.com/c7eU2P5vqk
— Patricia de Lille (@PatriciaDeLille) April 19, 2023
“I asked why the three matters raised in my letter do not constitute good cause for me to dissolve the Board in terms of Section 16 (3) of the Tourism Act.
“I have not received representations on why the Board should not be dissolved,” De Lille said.
She confirmed that eight of the eleven Board Members, including the Chairperson, resigned between 7 and 13 April 2023.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Twitter/ @HendricksSumaya
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
