By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South African Tourism (SAT) acting CEO, Themba Khumalo, has resigned from the troubled agency on Friday after acting for 17 months.
Khumalo will be pursuing a new career opportunity with an American-based international firm. He served as chief marketing officer at the agency for four years.
His resignation comes at a critical time for the South African tourism industry, which is still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sector has been hit hard by the pandemic, resulting in job losses and a significant reduction in revenue.
Khumalo was responsible for the promotion of South Africa as a tourist destination and the development of strategies to attract international visitors.
SA Tourism has being thrust in the spotlight over an R1 billion sponsorship deal with English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, which was criticised by the public in February.
The potential deal embroiled former Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu in the scandal, with media claims – later refuted – that she was actively involved in ensuring the contract was signed off before her speculated removal from her portfolio when President Cyril Ramaphosa reshuffled his Cabinet.
Following this, Khumalo wrote a report criticing the Tourism Board addressing it to the newly appointed Tourism minister Patricia De Lille asking that she dissolve the board due to strained relations between it and management.
Some board members also left the board.
De Lille appointed new members of the board and a new acting chairperson, Tim Harris, which led to a clash with parliament’s portfolio committee on tourism this week.
The committee wants De Lille to remove two of the three people she appointed as the interim South African Tourism board, citing their appointments were a reputational risk.