Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife CEO, David Mabunda, announced his resignation on Tuesday, July 25.

According to Ezemvelo Spokesperson, Musa Mntambo, Mabunda’s resignation is effective from July 31.

Sthabiso Chiliza, who joined Ezemvelo in 2006 has been appointed Acting CEO while a replacement is sought.

The KZN government is reportedly planning to merge Ezemvelo with the KwaZulu Natal Sharks Board to create a new organisation, outsourcing various ecotourism operations to the private sector to alleviate funding pressures.

Mabunda described his departure as “amicable”, however according to Times Live, several insiders mentioned that he was under pressure to leave after the recent appointment of the new board by Sihle Zikalala, who is the provincial Member of Executive Council for Economic Affairs, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.

Mabunda was the former CEO of South African National Parks and was initially brought in as Acting CEO for Ezemvelo in 2014 in the hope of restoring stability at organisation following the suspension of Bandile Mkhize. Mkhize stepped down following accusations of a failed attempt to roll out new staff management and payment structures.

In 2015, Mntambo said Mabunda would be at the helm on a three-year contract, which is only meant to end next year.

Early this year a new board was appointed, however unlike previous Ezemvelo board appointments which extended for a period of three years, the current board now has a tenure of just one year.

Tourism Update contacted the MEC’s office regarding the matter. It was mentioned that the MEC is allowed to, at his discretion, appoint the board for anywhere between one and three years, as he sees fit.