The Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA), Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) and Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA) collectively applaud and endorse the decisive actions undertaken by the Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, and the CEO of SA Tourism, Nombulelo Guliwe, concerning the recovery of 35 million rand associated with irregular payments made at the end of March 2023.
We commend Minister de Lille and Ms Guliwe for their principled and decisive leadership in proactively addressing this matter head-on.
Rosemary Anderson, FEDHASA National Chairperson, commented: “This exemplary handling demonstrates an unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of accountability, transparency and good governance within SA Tourism and the Department of Tourism.”
“The swift identification and recovery of misappropriated funds, coupled with the proactive engagement of the Auditor-General of South Africa for a comprehensive audit, demonstrates a rigorous adherence to public finance laws and regulations. Such actions are essential to maintaining trust and confidence in our vital tourism sector,” said Otto de Vries, ASATA CEO.
David Frost, SATSA CEO, remarked: “We are encouraged by the resolute leadership displayed by Minister de Lille and Ms Guliwe in addressing these challenges directly and decisively. Their actions secure the financial integrity of SA Tourism while reinforcing South Africa’s reputation as a premier global travel destination committed to ethical conduct.”
As key stakeholders and representative bodies within the travel and tourism industry, we affirm our steadfast support and collaboration with SA Tourism and the Department of Tourism.
We look forward to further strengthening our partnership in advancing South Africa’s tourism industry through principled leadership, sound governance and a shared commitment to excellence.
