De Lille Has No Choice but to Place SA Tourism Under Administration

Dear Editor

The recent revelation that SA Tourism may forfeit more than two-thirds of its 2024/25 Budget to National Treasury (more than R800m), after failing to utilise the funds, is the last straw. For years this SOE has failed to fulfil its mandate, namely to “promote the country domestically and internationally, whether for leisure, business or events”.

The DA therefore calls on Tourism Minister, Patricia de Lille, to place SA Tourism under administration.

This latest revelation of severe underspend is shocking considering the vital importance of tourism in our economy, particularly during peak season, as well as the limited finances available to Government.

For years, SA Tourism (the Department of Tourism’s sole SOE) has failed:

• It has not had a stable board since 2023, following the R1 billion Tottenham Hotspurs debacle,
• Members of the succeeding board were then fired last year, after over expenditure on meetings, resulting in SA Tourism’s third board in less than two years. Notably, members of the former board are in litigation with the Minister.
• It is also alleged that SA Tourism has awarded a R100 million irregular tender to Pomme Express, for tourism promotion this year, an entity said to have provided false and misleading information in its bid.

Placing SA Tourism under administration must be Minister De Lille’s first action of 2025. This step will require both the Minister and administrator to account to Parliament.

Regards

Haseena Ismail MP
DA Spokesperson on Tourism