The dissolved board of South African Tourism says it’s exploring various options, including legal action, following the decision by the Minister of Tourism Patrica de Lille to dissolve it on Wednesday.
They say they were surprised by the Minister’s decision, who cited an irregular meeting held on the 1st of this month, which they say never happened.
The board says what happened was merely to pass a resolution by round robin via electronic communication.
There was no meeting of the board, whether regular or irregular; there was simply no meeting on the 1st of August. Our investigating the allegations.
‘Precautionary suspension unlawful’
The Minister says she will tentatively appoint one or more people to manage the affairs of the SA Tourism board until a new board is appointed.
De Lille has cited its failure to address the legality of the procedure it followed to convene a special board meeting earlier this month. This is because only a Board chairperson is empowered to convene such a meeting.
De Lille says the Board’s decision to put the CEO Nombulelo Guliwe, on precautionary suspension was also unlawful.
Violation of Charter
Meanwhile, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Tourism has raised concerns over the dissolution of the Board.
She’s reported to have acted after the Board overstepped its authority by appointing a member to perform the duties of the former chairperson, Professor Gregory Davids, who resigned in July.
The Board is also said to have violated its own charter by holding a special meeting without the Chairperson’s approval.
Committee’s Chairperson Ronalda Nalumango says, “We are concerned because we, like yourselves, have heard through a statement that was released in the public domain on the dissolution of the board. So, as the Portfolio Committee on Tourism, we’ve not sat in meetings with the Minister taking us into confidence in regards to dissolving the Board. We have not had an opportunity to interrogate either the South African Tourism Board or the Minister in regards to what led to her taking such a decision.”
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