I want to use this opportunity to put forward my views and feelings about what has been transpiring over the past few weeks. I would like to talk for a few minutes about change. Everybody says change in organisations is painful and often difficult. We have experienced it in our own businesses but, wow, I have never experienced anything to the degree that we have gone through at Satsa over the past 12 to 18 months. 

Approximately 12 months back I, along with my Vice-Chairman, our CEO David Frost, and with input from our Treasurer, Kevin Watson, put together a document that we called ‘Gearing for Growth’, our plan and vision to take Satsa forward in terms of achieving its true potential from a membership perspective and recognition in the industry both locally and internationally. 

This was proposed to the National Executive Committee (NEC) and much debate ensued with final sign-off achieved unanimously from the board, which was caveated that at all stages the plan would need to adhere to the budget agreed and signed off at the time. 

What followed thereafter brings a famous Winston Churchill quote to mind: “You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks”. We certainly had much of this from the group that are attempting to derail and destabilise Satsa.

We, however, tried to deal with them as amicably as possible, however over the past few weeks the barks have become full-scale attacks. The reasons continue to be completely beyond me as everything that has and is being done is for the greater benefit of the association and by implication you, the membership.

We have sustained a continuous attack that has turned out to be a personal vendetta by a small group of certain members against our CEO, myself, our deputy chair and treasurer and, by implication, the entire board or NEC of Satsa, as elected by you the members.

The defamatory and scurrilous allegations have ranged from collusion to embezzlement – you name it, it has been levelled at us. The companies concerned cowardly hide behind letters drafted by lawyers and won’t sit around a desk and discuss any of these concerns they may have. Just two weeks back, a few days before the hijacked Gauteng AGM, I called the Chapter Chair of Gauteng as I had become aware of these ongoing issues remaining unresolved. I offered to put a day aside and come and meet with him and the other small group of individuals concerned. His words to me over the phone were “no need to meet we are satisfied with the direction the process is following”. A few days later he and the others concerned hijacked the Gauteng meeting, blatantly having lied to me earlier that week. To reiterate, the allegations they originally raised have been discussed at board level, answers have been provided and we have always tried to be as amicable as possible for the greater good of Satsa and its wonderful brand. 

What really brought this home to me insofar as the level to which this minority group of members has stooped to and the stark contrast between how distracting this process has been, a couple of weeks back David called me from the Southern Cape very excited. He had put together a meeting of the soon-to-be-formed Southern Cape Chapter. It took a lot of work in terms of rallying around the various local tourism associations like Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, George etc., getting them involved, getting their members to attend this unofficial inaugural meeting hosted by Fancourt.

There were around 20 existing Southern Cape-based Satsa member companies present and with David’s efforts they secured an additional 30-odd companies to attend the meeting, all of whom have committed to signing up as Satsa members the moment the Southern Cape Chapter is formed, which will be done immediately after this AGM.

There we have a new chapter, we have around 30 new member companies joining our ranks and then, following David imparting that news to me, I had to tell David that I had received a call earlier that morning from an existing Satsa member who had in turn been called by one of members of this minority group urgently requesting a proxy from them ahead of their regional chapter meeting as they said, I quote “we need to get rid of David Frost”.  Therein lies the huge contrast in the great work being done by David and his team versus the negative impact and effects that these minority individuals are creating. 

I just don’t understand the thinking of the individuals driving this vendetta. The last two years have seen significant growth in Satsa, we have a tightly controlled budget, our staff costs to revenue ratio is the lowest it has ever been, we have got a very strong team led by David and Hannelie.

Satsa is a very simple business and there were three core areas that I undertook to focus on when I accepted the position as president two years back. Firstly to focus on increasing the administrative capability of the head office team in terms of turning around the membership renewal process as well as processing the significant number of new member applications that we have and continue to receive. Secondly, strive to deliver real member value in terms of value-added benefits with the ultimate end goal of achieving member benefits that deliver value more than the cost of annual Satsa membership fees. Thirdly, drive revenue being a combination of new member sign up, potential merger with similar minded existing smaller associations, sponsors and project-based fee income, all of which I am pleased to say we have achieved or are well on the road to achieve.

In other words, we are moving in the right direction on these and we have set a great platform for the future. I am sure you will agree that we cannot continue to allow the tail to wag the dog, besides it being distracting, ultimately costing Satsa revenues in terms of legal fees, lack of focus on core functions on the revenue generation side, it also, very importantly, has a huge potential to significantly damage the good brand of Satsa both locally and internationally.

I implore all those members who are receiving communications from the small group to carefully read what they are sending you to sign in terms of proxies, understand the implications of what is being sent to you sign and, if unsure, please get in touch with either myself, David or Hannelie. It is important that this group does not dupe members as it has been doing, into signing these documents.

If they receive a significant number of proxies and seize control of Satsa, my fear is that Satsa will not survive. I believe that there will be an outflow of members, sponsors and project-based work Satsa is currently involved in. 48 years of Satsa’s existence will be destroyed. We need you, our local members, to stand with us to protect what is a vital association representing the needs of the inbound tourism industry.

I thank you for taking the time to read this letter , thank you to my board and the entire team at Satsa for your support and hard work . To our CEO, David Frost, and his family who have been put through hell over the past few months, on behalf of the board I can only apologise.

This will be a significant week in the history of Satsa and Satsa’s future now rests with you the membership.

Gavin Courtenay – Satsa President