By Simon Nare
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has rejected suggestions that the country’s tourism industry is in crisis, despite South African Tourism (SAT) being plagued by leadership gaps, irregularities, and an ongoing legal battle with its dissolved board.
De Lille told the National Assembly during an oral reply session on Wednesday that the sector remained stable and that she was working closely with the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA).
Speaking virtually from a venue where the TBCSA leadership was holding a conference, she said: “There is absolutely no crisis in tourism. The Tourism Business Council in a letter written to me have given their full support to the department of tourism to continue to work together to focus on the tourism growth partnership plan that we have all adopted.
“We have already had our first execution lap of the implementation programme and the issue of the TOMSA (Tourism Marketing South Africa) levies that are being withheld, the chairperson of the business council is busy looking into the matter.”
De Lille said she had requested a report on mismanagement at SAT that led to the withholding of levies amounting to R500 million. She stressed that the sector had confidence in her department’s ability to grow tourism, expand the economy and create jobs.
She acknowledged that Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke had raised concerns over the absence of a chief financial officer and head of internal audit at SAT, issues she said were being addressed by the interim board, and an announcement would soon be made in that regard.
The minister defended her decision to dissolve the SAT board, saying it was necessary to restore governance and accountability. Legal disputes over the interpretation of the Tourism Act, she said, would be settled in court.
She pledged to keep parliament and the public updated on the progress of the legal case.
“I am willing, prepared, able and committed to be held accountable by parliament. Parliament is there to hold the executive to account. And honourable chair I will never shift that responsibility,” she said.
De Lille said parliament would be briefed on SAT’s irregularities and mismanagement when she and the interim leadership next appear before the tourism portfolio committee.
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