After a heated argument in Parliament on September 2 about the minister of tourism, Patricia de Lille’s decision to dissolve the SAT board, former members have taken legal action against her.

On September 4, they stated that an application was filed in the Pretoria High Court to overturn De Lille’s decision, Lowvelder reports.

The applicants argued that the minister’s actions undermined good governance, accountability, and the independence of statutory boards.

They cautioned that the move threatened stability in South African tourism at a time when the sector was critical to economic recovery.

De Lille’s reasoning was based on an alleged meeting that took place on August 1, about voting to suspend former CEO Nombulelo Guliwe, without a chairperson. However, former board members said on August 21 that there was no meeting and that the grounds on which the minister had relied upon were factually inaccurate.

The board members were informed of troubling allegations that Nombulelo Guliwe, who placed second in the CEO interview process, was facing a disciplinary process for financial irregularities.

The Auditor-General also flagged a R4.1m prepayment, prompting a forensic investigation. However, before the former board could investigate these issues fully, De Lille dissolved it, allegedly using a non-existent meeting as her pretext.

De Lille also said in parliament that she has appointed a new SAT board with six temporary members who are all South African.

She also noted that the board has informed her of its intention to take legal action against her.

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