Johannesburg – The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Thursday claimed the South African Tourism (SAT) board was aware of allegations that Nomasonto Ndlovu was implicated in bribery when they appointed her as acting CEO.
DA Shadow Minister of Tourism, Manny de Freitas, said: “Information provided to me indicates that a whistle-blower called the SAT hotline with claims that Ndlovu, on 6 and 7 December 2022, had allegedly accepted a R100 000 bribe from an airline for business class flights, accommodation, and World Cup tickets”.
De Freitas added: “Our understanding is that the SAT Interim Board members were aware of these allegations yet despite this still appointed Ndlovu as SAT Acting CEO”.
He said it was “clear” that South African Tourism (SAT) was in serious trouble as it encounters one crisis after another.
“Within days of being appointed as the SAT acting CEO, Nomasonto Ndlovu has been implicated in bribery,” said De Freitas.
The SAT Interim board accepted the resignation of acting CEO, Themba Khumalo on 6 May 2023.
The Board then appointed Ndlovu.
“Despite Khumalo having a three-month notice period, the Board chose to accept Khumalos request to leave immediately without working in his notice period; all at the expense of the taxpayer,” said De Freitas.
“The latest Tourism Portfolio Committee meeting, which ran for almost 6 hours, exposed more questions than answers.
“Presently, most of the top SAT leadership are now all in acting capacities.
“Ndlovu is acting CEO as well as Chief Operations Officer, while the Chief Quality Assurance Officer, Bronwen Auret is now doubling up as Acting Chief Marketing Officer.
“All this not only appears to indicate that SAT is in shambles but that the SAT Board are making irresponsible decisions despite allegations presented to them.”
The DA Shadow Tourism Minister De Freitas said he will be writing to the Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille to request the following:
- That she suspends Nomasonto Ndlovu pending the outcome of investigations into the allegations against her;
- That she ensures that SAT has a full complement of permanent top management urgently;
- That she advertises for a proper SAT Board comprising of at least 9 members, as prescribed in clause 13 of the Tourism Act. Considering that the Act is silent on interim Boards, this is particularly urgent, and appears that the interim Board is illegal; and
- That she accedes to our request for information pertaining to the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club deal as per a PAIA application and appeal so that we can get to the bottom of how this deal got as far as it did and ensure that there were no illegal activities attached to it.
“As things stand, SAT is doing very little to engender confidence within the already vulnerable tourism and travel sector in South Africa,” said De Freitas.
“These issues must be speedily resolved so that SAT is back on track and fulfills their mandate so that jobs can be created in this sector.”
