Nombulelo Guliwe, the CEO of South African Tourism (SAT), was placed on precautionary suspension by the SAT board pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct. However, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, has strongly criticized the board’s decision, describing it as “unlawful.” She argued that the board was not properly constituted to take such a decision because its chairperson had resigned on July 31, 2025, leaving the board without proper leadership to make that resolution.
The minister emphasized that legal advice supported her view that the suspension was invalid, and she pledged to address the issue directly with the board. The suspension has sparked a governance dispute amid efforts to sustain the tourism sector’s post-pandemic recovery and prepare for the peak travel season. Minister de Lille has even hinted at the possibility of dissolving the board due to this conflict over authority and governance.
Timeline of WWP contract and the eventual suspension of Nombulelo Guliwe as CEO of South African Tourism:
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Late 2023 / Early 2024: South African Tourism awards a contract to WWP Group involving marketing and promotional activities tied to the Dubai Expo Dome project. The contract and related procurement processes start to raise concerns due to irregularities.
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Mid to Late 2024: Auditor-General flags the pre-payment to WWP Group as a material irregularity. Forensic investigations are launched into the contract and payments.
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Late 2024: The forensic report finds that the contract with WWP Group involved irregular appointments without proper competitive bidding and raised questions about the value and delivery of services.
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July 31, 2025: The chairperson of the South African Tourism board resigns, leaving the board without proper leadership.
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August 14, 2025: The South African Tourism board places CEO Nombulelo Guliwe on precautionary suspension pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct related to financial irregularities, particularly the WWP contract pre-payment.
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Mid-August 2025: South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, strongly criticizes the board’s suspension decision, describing it as “unlawful.” She argues the suspension was invalid because the board was not properly constituted to make such a decision without a chairperson. She cites legal advice supporting her stance.
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Mid-August 2025: Minister de Lille pledges to address the issue directly with the board and hints at the possibility of dissolving the board due to the governance dispute, which emerges amid efforts to sustain tourism’s post-pandemic recovery and prepare for the peak travel season.
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August 16-17, 2025: The suspension sparks a governance dispute as stakeholders call for transparency, accountability, and swift resolution to the leadership turmoil at South African Tourism.
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