South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, has kicked against the South African Tourism (SAT) board’s decision to place its Chief Executive Officer, Ms Nombulelo Guliwe, on precautionary suspension, describing the move as “unlawful.”
In a statement issued on Thursday, Minister de Lille said the board lacked the authority to take such a decision as it was “not properly constituted” following the resignation of its chairperson, Professor Gregory Davids, on 31 July 2025.
“According to legal advice to the Minister, this decision by the SA Tourism board is unlawful,” the statement read. “As of 31 July 2025, the South African Tourism Board does not have a board chairperson… This means the board in its current form is not properly constituted to take such a resolution.”
The SAT board had earlier announced Guliwe’s suspension with immediate effect, pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct. It said an interim acting CEO would be appointed with the concurrence of the Minister to ensure “seamless business continuity” while reaffirming its commitment to promoting South Africa as a competitive tourism destination in both domestic and international markets.
However, Minister de Lille stressed her commitment to “adherence to sound governance principles” and pledged to address the matter directly with the board.
The dispute over the suspension comes at a critical time for South Africa’s tourism sector, which is working to sustain post-pandemic recovery and bolster stakeholder confidence ahead of the peak travel season.
