Pretoria: Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has dissolved the South African Tourism Board in terms of section 16(3)(a) of the Tourism Act. This decision takes effect immediately, as announced by the Department of Tourism.
According to South African Government News Agency, the dissolution comes after the board failed to address concerns regarding the legality of the procedure followed during a special board meeting on 1 August 2025, which was convened unlawfully. Legal advice provided to the Minister indicated that the meeting was not authorized, as only the Board Chairperson has the authority to convene such meetings. This power is outlined in both the Act and the Board Charter.
The Minister had previously cautioned the board about the importance of adhering to proper governance procedures. Despite assurances from the board that measures were in place to ensure meetings were properly constituted, a failure to follow due process led to this drastic action. The board’s actions were deemed unlawful and beyond
their powers, especially given the absence of a Chairperson after Professor Gregory Davids’ resignation.
The board’s responsibilities and powers are derived from the enabling statute and the Board Charter, and they must always comply with the principle of legality. The Minister now aims to initiate the process of appointing a new board and will invite nominations in due course. Interim management will be appointed to oversee the board’s affairs until new appointments are made.
The Department of Tourism assured that these changes will not impact ongoing programmes. The Minister remains committed to working with the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) and other stakeholders on initiatives such as the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan and the upcoming Tourism Investment Summit, scheduled for 10 September 2025 in Cape Town. This summit will feature participation from various Tourism Ministers and delegates from the World Travel and Trade Council.
As the country approaches Tourism Month in September,
the department will announce winners of a digital solutions hackathon involving students from 18 higher education institutions. The Minister encourages South Africans to explore discounted travel packages available on the Sho’t left website.