Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has dissolved the SA Tourism board with immediate effect, citing unlawful conduct.
She said the board illegally convened a special meeting on 1 August 2025 after its chairperson resigned, despite previous warnings about governance breaches.
“As of 1 August 2025, the board had no chairperson to lawfully convene a special board meeting following the resignation of Professor Gregory Davids the day before (31 July 2025), but this notwithstanding, the board elected to convene a special board meeting, and in doing so, the board acted unlawfully and ultra vires its powers,” said the minister.
Legal advice confirmed the meeting and resulting resolutions were invalid.
Patricia De Lille will appoint interim managers and begin the process of forming a new board, assuring that ongoing programmes, including preparations for the G20 summit, will continue.
[WATCH] Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has dissolved the SA Tourism Board with immediate effect. Tourism Portfolio Committee chairperson Ronalda Nalumango says they’ll invite De Lille to brief them after the recess.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/k96mxqYy8Z
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) August 20, 2025
However, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) slammed the move as “gross political interference,” accusing De Lille of protecting suspended SA Tourism CEO Nombulelo Guliwe.
Outa argued that the board acted within its rights and was fulfilling its oversight role by addressing governance and financial concerns.
First published on African Insider
Words compiled by: Betha Madhomu
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