By Simon Nare
Parliament’s portfolio committee on small business development has sharply criticised the Department of Tourism for the slow pace in distributing the Tourism Equity Fund and approving loans intended to empower black entrepreneurs.
MPs also took issue with the response from Director-General Nkhumeleni Victor Vele, accusing him of failing to adequately account for delays. Some members likened his replies to “blue-ticking”, suggesting a lack of meaningful engagement.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Babalwa Mathulelwa said Vele’s response focused too narrowly on existing funds without addressing long-term sustainability.
“I am of the view that the tourism DG is just blue-ticking us because the response is not enough. He is only talking about the money that is in the account. As a portfolio committee, we are fighting to ensure that the equity fund is not taken away from the department,” she said.
Mathulelwa criticised the brevity of the department’s response,
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