The South African Tourism Board is undergoing yet another leadership shake-up, following the removal of its Chairperson, Makhosazana Khanyile, and Deputy Chairperson, Lizelle Jordaan, by Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille. The decision comes amidst growing concerns over the board’s management of its meetings and budget.
Concerns Over Excessive Meetings
The catalyst for this significant change stems from an alarming number of board meetings held in the 2024/25 financial year, which have already consumed 63% of the allocated R1.44 million budget for board fees. According to De Lille, 27 meetings were conducted between March and June 2024, an unusually high figure that prompted her to seek explanations.
In a statement, Minister De Lille expressed her concerns: “I had requested in my letter that they provide information on why so many meetings were necessary. I had requested this information as these meetings have a direct impact on budget allocation and because the meeting frequencies were excessive.”
54 Meetings in Six Months
Between March and the first week of September, a total of 54 board meetings were held, accumulating R900,000 in fees. Given the significant financial impact of these meetings, De Lille sought justification from both Khanyile and Jordaan on September 3, asking them to provide their reasoning for such high meeting frequencies. However, neither provided a satisfactory response.
As a result, both Khanyile and Jordaan were removed from their leadership roles on September 9. Despite being removed as Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, they will remain on the board as ordinary members.
New Leadership and Next Steps
In the wake of this leadership shake-up, Minister De Lille has appointed Dr. Gregory Davids as the new Chairperson of the SA Tourism Board. The position of Deputy Chairperson remains vacant, with the Department of Tourism yet to announce a replacement.
Khanyile and Jordaan had only been in their positions since February 2024, following the appointment of a new SA Tourism board. This latest development raises further questions about the governance and financial management within the organization.
A New Direction for South African Tourism
The removal of the board’s top leadership highlights ongoing challenges within South African Tourism’s governance. As the department works to fill the remaining leadership vacancy, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how these changes impact the future direction of the organization, particularly in the wake of public scrutiny over budget allocation and governance practices.