Friday, 22 August 2025.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) rejects the reckless and irrational decision by Minister Patricia de Lille to dissolve the South African Tourism (SAT) Board. This move is a desperate attempt to shield corruption and obstruct investigations into serious financial misconduct within the tourism sector.

The Minister’s claim that the board unlawfully convened a meeting is a blatant falsehood as evidence confirms that no such meeting ever took place. Instead, this narrative was deliberately manufactured to discredit a board that had rightly suspended the CEO of SAT Nombulelo Guliwe due to financial misconduct involving a R4.1 million prepayment that was flagged by the Auditor-General.

The Minister was unhappy with this decision even though the board was fulfilling its fiduciary duty to safeguard public funds and uphold governance standards. The dissolution of the board is therefore nothing more than a calculated effort to protect mismanagement and corruption, and silence oversight.

As a result, Minister de Lille has now opened up the Department of Tourism to unnecessary litigation at the expense of taxpayers due to the illegal nature of the dissolution and her general conduct. Under her successive terms, the tourism sector has continued a steep decline. South Africa has missed countless opportunities to position itself as a leading global destination, losing billions in potential revenue and jobs. This stagnation cannot be explained by anything other than sheer incompetence, poor leadership, and the prioritisation of diversity in our leadership structures.

The EFF demands that the Minister account for her actions before Parliament and the people of South Africa, and we call for the immediate reinstatement of a competent, independent board empowered to investigate corruption and financial misconduct without political manipulation. The EFF will continue to defend institutions from capture and hold the executive accountable.

ISSUED BY ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Sinawo Thambo (National Spokesperson) 072 629 7422

Thembi Msane (National Spokesperson) 061 467 8169

Andiswa Madikazi (Parliament Media Liason) 069 516 4924

Thato Lebyane (Media Inquiries) 078 563 1581