08 September 2023
The appointment of Ms. Nomasonto Ndlovu as Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of South African Tourism (SA Tourism) has been withdrawn, by the SA Tourism Board. Ms. Ndlovu has been asked to revert to her previous role as Chief Operating Officer of SA Tourism. This was revealed in a press release dated 08 September 2023, signed by the Chairperson of SA Tourism Board, Tim Harris.
In her place, the current Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Nombulelo Guliwe, has been asked to fulfil the acting role as Chief Executive Officer pending the recruitment of a full time CEO which is ongoing. The full details of the press release is available below:
On 9 May 2023, during Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban, media reports appeared on allegations against Ms. Nomasonto Ndlovu who was acting as Chief Executive Officer for SA Tourism. The allegations had been lodged on SA Tourism anonymous whistle-blower hotline in January 2023, based on a trip undertaken in December 2022.
Following an initial inquiry, the Board made the decision to retain Ms. Ndlovu in her acting position subject to the completion of an investigation that had been initiated through Internal Audit, prior to the Board’s term of office. The investigation, by an outsourced forensic investigator, was to determine whether all internal policies, as well as the prescripts of the Public Finance Management Act, had been followed.
The Board has received and deliberated on the investigator’s report that recommends that “appropriate remedial action is initiated” relating to the conduct of three individuals that were investigated, including Ms. Ndlovu. The Board resolved to accept the report’s recommendations and delegate them to the Human Capital and Remuneration Committee of the Board for implementation and resolved to withdraw Ms. Ndlovu’s appointment as Acting Chief Executive Officer. She reverts to her position as the Chief Operations Officer for the entity.
We have requested the current Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Nombulelo Guliwe, to fulfil the acting role as Chief Executive Officer while the recruitment of a full time CEO is ongoing. Minister’s concurrence has been received in this regard.
Tim Harris
Chairperson: SA Tourism Board
Date: 08 September 2023