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De Lille Under Fire After Dissolving SA Tourism Board: Power Move or Political Misstep?
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has ignited a political storm following her decision to dissolve the South African Tourism Board this week. The move has drawn sharp criticism from political parties, civil organisations, and tourism stakeholders, many of whom accuse her of overreach and political interference. Others insist she acted on legal advice and was within her rights. Now the big question is: was it bold leadership or a blunder?
A fractured board and rising tensions
The fallout began when De Lille accused the SAT board of acting unlawfully earlier in August by holding a meeting to appoint a new chairperson following the resignation of Gregory Davids on 31 July. Davids had stepped down after the board placed CEO Nombulelo Guliwe on precautionary suspension. According to the minister, the board failed to follow the proper process when it reconvened.
She also claims she was already in the process of appointing new board members and had previously warned the board about procedural compliance. But board member Lawson Naidoo pushed back strongly, saying De Lille’s reasoning is factually incorrect. He insists no chairperson was appointed in any meeting, and instead, a round robin resolution was passed to name him spokesperson while the board awaited a new chair.
Naidoo also noted that De Lille herself had not appointed a deputy chair in months, nor had she moved to fill the vacancy left by Davids.
Calls for answers in Parliament
The backlash has extended to Parliament. Ronalda Nalumango, chairperson of the Tourism Portfolio Committee, said the committee will summon De Lille to explain her decision. Nalumango pointed out that this comes just months after the minister promised to elevate the state of tourism in South Africa during her 100-day milestone address.
Sonja Boshoff of the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade took a more neutral stance, saying she welcomed the move if it aimed to strengthen governance. She confirmed that De Lille had received legal advice before taking action.
Accusations of protecting the CEO
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken a much firmer stance, accusing De Lille of acting in bad faith. DA MP Haseen Ismail said the minister had ignored serious allegations against CEO Nombulelo Guliwe and dissolved the board to protect her.
“We see no conclusion other than that Minister De Lille is using her position to protect a rogue CEO while hiding behind a flawed procedural argument,” said Ismail. The DA is demanding the immediate reinstatement of the board and an independent investigation into the CEO’s conduct.
OUTA and the tourism industry respond
Civil society group OUTA (Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse) did not mince words. CEO Wayne Duvenage called De Lille’s action “gross political interference” and a “direct assault on governance.” He urged the former board members to take legal action and bring an urgent interdict before the courts.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Business Council of South Africa expressed disappointment over the dissolution, with CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa noting that this is not the first time the board has been dismantled under political pressure.
“It disappoints us when we see what the minister has done,” he said. “The fact that we don’t have a board is a setback.”
Power move or political misstep?
The controversy highlights a deeper tension between political oversight and institutional independence. While some see De Lille’s decision as a necessary reset to restore order and legal compliance, others believe it undermines accountability and distracts from allegations of wrongdoing within the agency.
In a sector critical to South Africa’s economy and global reputation, governance decisions carry weight. Whether this was a necessary shake-up or a political blunder remains to be seen, but the coming weeks, and likely the courts, will have the final say.
Also read: Grade 12 Girl Accuses Limpopo Principal of Assault, Education Dept Suspends Him
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Source: IOL
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