JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, has dissolved the South African Tourism Board and removed its members, citing procedural irregularities during a special board meeting held on 1 August 2025. The decision, communicated to the board on 19 August, takes immediate effect.
The Minister acted under the Tourism Act No. 3 of 2014, which allows for the removal of board members for good cause. Legal advice indicated that the board convened the special meeting unlawfully, as only the chairperson has authority to call such sessions. The board had no chairperson at the time, following the resignation of Professor Gregory Davids on 31 July 2025.
Earlier, the Minister had raised concerns about governance lapses during board meetings, warning that ignoring proper procedures could render decisions invalid. Despite assurances from the board in July 2025 that processes would be corrected, the unlawful meeting prompted the immediate dissolution.
The Minister will appoint interim managers to oversee board affairs while initiating the process to select a new board. She assured stakeholders that ongoing programmes, including collaboration with the Tourism Business Council of South Africa and preparations for the G20 summit, will continue uninterrupted.
Plans are also underway for the inaugural Tourism Investment Summit on 10 September 2025 in Cape Town, which will showcase bankable public and private sector projects to local and international investors.
The Tourism Department continues to support the government’s priorities of inclusive growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and ethical governance. During Tourism Month in September, the department will announce winners of a student digital solutions hackathon and encourage South Africans to explore discounted tourism packages via the Sho’t Left website.
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