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IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Tourism industry raises alarm over leadership turmoil in South African Tourism Board
SA Tourism CEO, Nombulelo Guliwe, a qualified Chartered Accountant, was appointed to the CEO position for a five-year period in February 2024 following a comprehensive recruitment process. Image: Supplied The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) - the umbrella organisation representing businesses in the hospitality, travel, and tourism sector - has voiced serious concerns over recent upheavals within the board of South African Tourism (SA Tourism). This comes after the SA Tourism board on Thursday placed CEO Nombulelo Guliwe on precautionary suspension effective immediately, following serious allegations of misconduct. Leadership instability at the national tourism agency responsible for marketing the country as a preferred tourist destination comes just a month before one of South Africa's biggest tourism conferences hosted by TBCSA. In a statement on Friday, TBCSA highlighted Guliwe's reported suspension and the resignation of board chairperson, Professor Gregory Davids, last month as glaring concerns. Compounding worries for the tourism industry, there are discussions around the potential dissolution of the board itself. These developments come at a time when the tourism sector is still in a precarious state of recovery following the tumultuous impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. TBCSA said it was alarmed by the leadership instability as it could derail significant progress made in revitalising the tourism market. "These matters are deeply troubling as the sector is still in recovery mode," said TBCSA chairman, Jerry Mabena. "The TBCSA calls on the Minister, Hon. Patricia de Lille, to urgently address these matters. The TBCSA further stands in support of the work of the ministry and department in ensuring that tourism programs are not delayed or adversely affected." In light of these circumstances, the TBCSA called upon the Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, to take swift action in addressing these pressing issues. The organisation expressed unwavering support for the Ministry and the department's efforts in ensuring that existing tourism programmes continue unabated and are not hindered by the ongoing uncertainties. Looking ahead, the TBCSA said it plans to engage with other key tourism stakeholders, including the board of SA Tourism, in the coming week in a bid to discuss strategies to collectively support the organisation during this turbulent period. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Meanwhile, De Lille's office declared the board's decision null and void since it no longer has a chairperson nor a deputy chairperson. In a brief statement in response to this suspension, the department said De Lille has noted the decision by the board and said it was "unlawful". "As of 31 July 2025, the South African Tourism Board does not have a board chairperson following the resignation of Professor Gregory Davids. This means, the board in its current form is not properly constituted to take such a resolution," said the department. "Minister de Lille, remains committed to ensuring the adherence to sound governance principles at South African Tourism and will address the above with the board." Guliwe, a qualified Chartered Accountant, was appointed to the CEO position for a five-year period in February 2024 following a comprehensive recruitment process. In nearly 10 years with the organisation, Guliwe has served in various leadership roles throughout her career including chief financial officer at SA Tourism since August 2019. Under Guliwe's tenure, SA Tourism was recently plunged into a tender scandal after allegations of irregularities in the awarding of a R100 million tender to Pomme Express. Pomme Express was reported to have failed to show proof of experience and alleged to have provided false and misleading information in its bid toorganise Meetings Africa 2025 and Africa's Travel Indaba 2025. While in the position of action CEO, Guliwe was accused by a group of SA Tourism employees of bullying and enforcing a culture of intimidation and intimidation, but the board at the time dismissed those allegations as baseless.
The Citizen
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
KLCBT seeks urgent urgent financial support for security plans in the Lowveld region
The Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) is appealing to tourism operators and the logistics sector to contribute monthly towards maintaining its highly successful integrated security plan (ISP). The situation has become dire since the cessation of funding from the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), which had played a crucial role in safeguarding the Lowveld. According to the KLCBT's CEO, Linda Grimbeek, the call for a monthly contribution of R500 aims to bridge this funding gap and ensure sustained protection of the region's vital tourism industry and logistical networks. The KLCBT's proactive approach has proven effective, and all beneficiaries are urged to collaborate to ensure the continued safety and prosperity of the Lowveld. 'For months, the ISP, spearheaded by the KLCBT, transformed the region's security, particularly along the notorious Numbi Road. The plan included sustained patrols and the strategic installation of surveillance cameras in crime hotspots. It also provided other vital security measures to protect both tourists and local businesses,' she said. ALSO READ: The KLCBT needs R35m to upgrade tourist safety in Lowveld Grimbeek added that the ISP implementation led to a remarkable drop in the crime rate. For over 10 months, no crimes against tourists were reported. Attacks on Mozambican nationals ceased, and delivery trucks became significantly safer on key routes. 'We quickly forget how it was before, and how desperate we were to find solutions. Now we have the solution, but we need sustainable funding from everybody!' she said. Grimbeek drew a compelling parallel, reminding stakeholders: 'We all pay for security at our homes and workplaces, along with insurance to protect them. But the roads and streets leading to our homes, schools, clients, and tourist destinations are excluded. Who will protect those if we cannot sustain the ISP?' ALSO READ: Numbi road's upgraded security measures in place While discussions for renewed support with the TBCSA and SANParks are continuing, the KLCBT emphasises the immediate need for broad-based contributions from those who directly benefit from a safer Lowveld. For more information on how to contribute or to learn more about the ISP, interested parties are encouraged to contact the KLCBT on 013 755 1988 or email [email protected].
