Portfolio Committee Worried About SA Tourism Board Dissolution As Members Consider Legal Action
- The former SA Tourism board members are taking action against Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille's decision to dissolve the board
- De Lille announced the dissolution on 20 August and said that she dissolved the board because of an unlawful meeting
- The board members are considering taking legal action against De Lille, and the Portfolio Committee on Tourism weighed in
With 10 years of experience, Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist, has provided insights into infrastructure challenges and state-owned enterprises in South Africa, having worked at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.
Source: Getty Images
PARLIAMENT, WESTERN CAPE — The Portfolio Committee on Tourism is concerned that the SA Tourism board was dissolved on 19 August 2025. This was as the axed board members are considering taking legal action against Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille.
According to SABC News, the Portfolio Committee chairperson, Ronalda Nalumango, said that the Committee learned about the dissolution of the board through the statement the Department released on social media. Nalumango said that the Committee has not had a meeting with De Lille to discuss her motives behind dissolving the board.
The board wants to take action
Meanwhile, the axed board members denied that they had an irregular meeting on 1 August and said it passed s resolution by round robin via electronic communication. The members said that there was no meeting and are considering taking legal action.
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Why did De Lille dissolve the board?
In a statement, De Lille said that only a Board chairperson has the power to convene a special board meeting. She noted that since the previous board chairperson resigned, the board had no power to convene the meeting. She also said that the board's decision to suspend SA Tourism CEO Nombulelo Guliwer was unlawful.
The SA Tourism board is not the only board to face the axe. Recently, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy dissolved the Road Accident Fund (RAF) board. She said that the board wrestled with a myriad of challenges, including governance issues and the irregular suspension of RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo.
Source: Getty Images
South Africans discuss
Netizens, commenting on Facebook, shared an assortment of views on the board's reaction to its dissolution.
Dolores Coullie said:
"Laughing stock of the world."
Druzar Ke Nna said:
"And it did nothing right."
Jacques Becker said:
"Kickbacks aren't big enough."
Prem Maharaj said:
"She has a personal vendetta against the board."
Davey Wa Moruto said:
"You are misusing your powers, minister. I'm sure they requested additional meetings from your office."
Vicki De Villiers said:
"Power mad. And she's made a laughing stock of herself."
Former Higher Education Minister dissolves NSFAS board
In a related article, Briefly News reported that the former Higher Education Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, dissolved the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) board members on 11 April 2024. This was after the board chairman, Ernest Khoza, resigned.
Nzimande also placed NSFAS under administration, and South Africans reacted.
"The board operated without a chair for three months, but restructuring NSFAS is a proactive step to enhance its ability to serve students better," a netizen pointed out.
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Source: Briefly News
