The internal troubles at South African Tourism were laid bare in Parliament yesterday, as members of the recently dissolved board presented a united front against Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille’s alleged interference in the entity’s affairs.

De Lille faced tough questions from the Portfolio Committee after dissolving the board late last month. She argued that members had failed in their governance duties by convening an unlawful meeting on 1 August.

According to the Minister, the board passed a round robin resolution in the absence of a chair, after Professor Gregory Davids resigned in late July, to give board member Lawson Naidoo authority to act as a representative.

Former board members strongly disputed her account, accusing De Lille of using the dissolution to shield suspended CEO Nombulelo Guliwe.

Guliwe is facing allegations of maladministration and serious financial misconduct, including governance breaches flagged in an Auditor-General’s report. The AG found irregularities around a R4.1 million prepayment to a service provider.

Former board member Judi Nwokedi told MPs the board had repeatedly requested urgent meetings with De Lille to discuss governance concerns, including the board’s suspension of Guliwe.

Instead, she said, they were blindsided by a letter announcing the board’s dissolution.

She says De Lille regularly communicated directly with the former chairperson and the suspended CEO, leaving the board out of the loop.

Nwokedi also described a “toxic environment” within SA Tourism, with Guliwe suspending the company secretary, the chief marketing officer and other senior staff shortly before her own suspension.

Another former member, Oupa Pilane, accused De Lille of “blaming the board for her own failings” and undermining its attempts to restore accountability.

De Lille rejected claims that she is protecting Guliwe, insisting there is “no crisis” at SA Tourism and that her intervention was necessary to restore stability. She maintained that she had followed all proper protocols in dissolving the board.

But several committee members remained unconvinced. ANC MP Sello Meshack Maeco accused the Minister of political overreach, while others questioned whether her actions were legally sound.

The committee has instructed De Lille to submit outstanding documents and will seek a legal opinion on whether the dissolved board should be reinstated.

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