By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African Tourism (SA Tourism) launched a forensic investigation into the leaking of documents of the Tottenham Hotspur R1 billion sponsorship deal.
The proposed deal with the English Premier League football team has been met with anger and backlash after details on the matter emerged last week.
This resulted in the resignation of three SA Tourism board members with immediate effect amid the outrage.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, SAT spokesperson Thandiwe Mathibela said the board had resolved to conduct a forensic investigation on the leaking of the board discussions.
“The SA Tourism board has deliberated and resolved that a forensic investigation on the leaking of the SA Tourism board discussions be conducted. The board has noted the media reports on the issue of the interim CFO, van der Walt. It has been resolved that the matter be investigated. The SA Tourism board is committed to the speedy resolution of both these matters.”
The move does not come as a surprise to many because during a press briefing after Daily Maverick breaking the story a day before, on Thursday SAT acting CEO Themba Khumalo said the leaked documents did not reflect the full version of the truth and labelled whoever leaked the documents as “un-South African”.
“Somebody maliciously leaked confidential documentation into the press prematurely…the intent of the leak was not to encourage economic activity of the country, it was something else that has nothing to do with the mandate that is in the Tourism Act.
Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has also called for an urgent and full investigation into the controversial sponsorship of Tottenham Hotspur by SA Tourism.
In a statement on Wednesday, the minister said that the SA Tourism board should implement a fully-fledged forensic investigation into the deal and possible conflicts of interest.
“The investigation of resigned board members is a ruse, whether they have leaked information.
“Their matter is not relevant to this case and is not worth wasting resources on. What must be investigated are all potential transgressors that have brought the image of SA Tourism into disrepute through deliberate deceptions, that includes hidden agencies that stood to benefit from this deal,” Sisulu’s office said.
The statement said the minister was “seriously disturbed” that SA Tourism’s interim chief financial officer, Johan van der Walt, is still in office despite accusations against him.