Important Industry Update: SATSA statement on the dissolution of the South African Tourism Board

The Minister of Tourism’s decision to dissolve the South African Tourism Board has caused deep concern across our sector. At a time when the industry is working tirelessly to recover and grow, such actions undermine governance, stability, and the international reputation of our industry.

A History of Support and Good Faith

From the outset, SATSA has been supportive of the Minister when she assumed office, and of Nombulelo Guliwe when she was appointed CEO of South African Tourism. We saw these milestones as an opportunity to reset and strengthen the foundations of the sector. We embraced the chance for constructive collaboration, with optimism that a genuine partnership built on trust, accountability, and shared vision could unlock growth for tourism and deliver lasting benefits to South Africa. Our stance was never oppositional; it was grounded in good faith, professionalism, and a clear commitment to serve the industry and the country.

To understand the seriousness of the current situation, it is important to reflect on the history of the Boards that have served under the Minister’s tenure, and the path that has led us here.

Timeline of South African Tourism Board Appointments (2023–2025)

• 7 March 2023: Patricia de Lille appointed Minister of Tourism.

• April 2023: Mass resignation of eight Board members, including the Chairperson, left the Board inquorate. On 21 April, the Minister dissolved the Board by notice in the Government Gazette and appointed three interim members: Ms Kholeka Zama (who was reappointed in the new interim structure of 22 August 2025), Mr Tim Harris, and Mr Vincent Zwelibanzi Mntambo.

• 28 February 2024: Cabinet approved the appointment of a new 10-member Board, as well as the appointment of Ms Guliwe as CEO for a five-year term. These appointments were subsequently Gazetted.

• 3–9 September 2024: The Minister raised concerns about Board meeting costs and removed the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson from their roles.

• September 2024: At this time, SATSA CEO David Frost recommended Oupa Pilane for the role of Chairperson, noting his extensive experience chairing the SATSA Board and previously the Kruger Lowveld Tourism Board. Despite these credentials, the Minister appointed Prof Gregory Davids as Chairperson, an academic with no substantive board or tourism industry experience. No Deputy Chair was appointed.

• 27 September 2024: A new Board was constituted. This was not an inherited Board but one of the Minister’s own choosing.

• April 2025: An independent forensic report was tabled, undertaken on the instruction of the previous Board, following the Auditor-General’s findings in 2024. Acting within its 90-day timeframe, as per labour law guidelines, the now dissolved Board considered this report, which directly implicated the CEO in alleged irregular spending.

• 17 July 2025: Following several failed interventions with the Chairperson, and after raising this matter as a concern with the Minister (with no response), the Board passed a Vote of No Confidence against the Chairperson, Prof Gregory Davids, and unanimously voted for his resignation. The Minister failed to appoint either a new Chairperson or an Acting Chairperson despite being asked to do so by the Board. It is important to note that the interim Board appointed this past week (22 August 2025) includes both a Chairperson and a Deputy Chair.

• 13 August 2025: The Board ultimately took the difficult but necessary step of suspending the CEO, based on the independent forensic report findings and allegations of unfair labour practices.

• 19 August 2025: Rather than support the Board’s lawful and justifiable actions, the Minister dissolved it, citing an alleged meeting on 1 August, a claim the Board categorically denied. Unlike the 2023 dissolution, this decision has not been Gazetted, raising further concerns about due process.

The Board’s Fiduciary Duties

Despite repeated obstacles, the Board carried out its fiduciary responsibilities with diligence and integrity. It acted transparently and kept the Minister informed.

It is our clear legal interpretation that a Board can continue to perform its fiduciary duties provided there is a quorum, regardless of whether a Chair is in place. Acting within this mandate, the Board pursued the appropriate course of action.

Rather than support these steps towards accountability, the Minister dissolved the Board on a baseless and spurious technicality, citing the alleged 1 August meeting. She has since attempted to portray the Board as acting in a destabilising manner, which is implausible.

Good Governance

The Minister’s actions reveal a deeply troubling and sustained pattern of ministerial overreach, interference, and inconsistency. By refusing to appoint a Deputy Chair (which she is mandated to do under the Tourism Act), she deliberately weakened the Board’s governance capacity and undermined its ability to carry out fiduciary duties. By dissolving the Board without Gazetting the decision, she not only sidestepped due process but also acted outside the bounds of established legal and governance frameworks.

By blocking South African Tourism from participating in international trade shows until a return-on-investment study is completed, a task that properly falls within the mandate of the Board and its executives and not the Minister, she has jeopardised South Africa’s credibility, competitiveness, and standing in the global market. Such actions are not merely procedural lapses; they represent a direct threat to good governance and to the economic prospects of the tourism sector. An example of how this is already playing out is South Africa’s absence from the International Golf Travel Market this October. It sends a damaging signal to global buyers that South Africa is closed for business in a lucrative niche where competitors such as Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and Mauritius are aggressively building market share.

Our Position

SATSA stands firmly behind the dissolved Board members, our colleagues, peers, and industry leaders, who acted with competence, integrity, and a genuine commitment to South Africa. These are individuals of the highest calibre, motivated not by politics or malice but by service to our industry and country.

We urge the Minister to reverse her decision, to desist from political interference, and to restore stability by allowing the Board and executives of South African Tourism to carry out their responsibilities. We fully support the Board’s right to pursue legal recourse and believe this step is justified and necessary.

Conclusion

Taking this stance is not easy. Yet SATSA has always stood for truth and accountability, as we did in past battles on the red list, unabridged birth certificates, and visa regulations.

This crisis is not of the Board’s making, nor of TBCSA’s, nor of SATSA’s. It rests squarely with the Minister’s actions. The perception is that in choosing to protect one individual at the expense of governance and trust, she risks doing irreparable damage to the very fabric of our sector.

SATSA remains resolute in its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the protection of South African tourism. We stand behind the Board, our people, until this matter is resolved.

For any media queries, contact Kim Taylor at kim@satsa.co.za