Minister de Lille reshuffles SA Tourism board amid concerns
Minister Patricia de Lille has announced a major reshuffle of the South African Tourism (SAT) Board due to concerns about excessive meeting frequencies and budget overruns.
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In a statement, de Lille revealed that nearly R900,000 of the R1.44m allocated for board fees had been spent on 54 meetings by early September, covering 63% of the board’s annual budget.
"The Tourism Portfolio Committee has also raised concerns about the excessive number of board meetings and the associated costs," de Lille said. "I wrote to SAT board chairperson, Makhosazana Khanyile and deputy chairperson, Lizelle Dominique Jordaan on 3 September 2024, requesting their explanations before making decisions about their future roles on the board."
De Lille had previously expressed concern over the high number of meetings, including 27 held between March and June 2024. She sought explanations because the frequent meetings not only strained the board’s budget but also prompted questions about the board’s operational efficiency. Their unsatisfactory response led to their removal from leadership roles, though they will remain as ordinary board members.
Dr Gregory Davids has been appointed as the new chairperson. The Department of Tourism has not yet announced a new deputy chairperson.
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