Dear Editor
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has lost the confidence of South Africa’s tourism sector. The Democratic Alliance (DA) asked her in Parliament today whether dissolving the SA Tourism (SAT) Board was still defensible, given the Tourism Business Council’s decision to withhold half a billion rand in TOMSA levies. De Lille’s response can only be described as delusional, as she continues to insist she has the faith of a tourism sector that clearly has decided she is not up to the job.
The Council’s move is a clear signal: the industry no longer trusts either SAT or the Minister at its helm.
This crisis stems directly from De Lille’s reckless decision to dissolve the SAT Board. She continues to rely on a narrow procedural argument, while refusing to release the legal opinion she claims backed her action. That secrecy suggests her reasoning cannot withstand proper scrutiny. The Minister must be aware that the Tourism Act provides for the round robin decision-making process used by the Board, but continues to ignore this fact.
As a result, SAT has been stripped of hundreds of millions in private sector funding. Money meant to market South Africa abroad, create jobs, and help the sector recover will now be managed by the private sector, while SAT crumbles under the Minister’s watch.
The rot runs deeper. SAT’s poor audit record stretches back years, beginning when its now-suspended CEO was still CFO. Yet, rather than fixing governance, De Lille chose to interfere.
Former Board members told Parliament she bypassed proper channels to deal directly with executives. This is an unacceptable breach that shows her determination to meddle without accountability.
The damage is now undeniable: SAT is weakened, cash-strapped, and stripped of credibility.
De Lille cannot pass the blame. Her decisions and interference have caused immense harm, and the industry is paying the price.
A Minister who has lost the confidence of her sector and obstructs consequence management is not fit to lead. Patricia de Lille must accept responsibility for the collapse she has created.
Regards
Haseena Ismail MP
DA Spokesperson on Tourism