There are high hopes that the new Board of South African Tourism – approved by Cabinet earlier this month (October) – will play a strong role in advancing the growth and recovery of the sector.
The Minister of Tourism, Lindiwe Sisulu, announcing the appointment of the new Board, said she was confident that the incoming Board was poised to oversee the entity in fulfilling its mandate of marketing South Africa as an attractive tourism destination.
“Tourism sector recovery is well under way, and we are excited at the appointment of this new Board, which comprises highly skilled individuals from various sectors. Our industry is critical to the South African economy as it contributes richly to the GDP and to the lives of the people of our country.”
Chaired by Dr Nondumiso Maphazi – ex-Mayor of Qqeberha and Chair of the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency, amongst others – the incoming Board is representative of South Africa’s demographics and comprises individuals from various professional backgrounds, including governance, marketing, financial services, strategic business leadership, tourism and the medical field.
Half the Board is made up of women and consists of the following:
- Dr Nondumiso Maphazi (Chairperson)
- Dr Aubrey Mhlongo (Deputy Chairperson
- Pretty Ntombela
- Nomahlubi Mazwai
- Odwa Mtati
- Ravi Nadesen
- Enver Duminy
- Nandipha Mzileni Mbulawa
- Mduduzi Zakwe
- Rosemary Anderson
- Lehlohonolo Rapodile
- Nonkqubela Silulwane
The Board will serve for three years and will oversee the process of integrating Brand South Africa into SA Tourism operations, according to Sisulu.
Board’s manadate
Acting CEO of SA Tourism, Mzilikazi Themba Khumalo, lauded the appointment of the Board, noting that it would advance the recovery of the tourism sector and impact positively on the ideals of the National Development Plan, including job creation, advancement of SMMEs, and market access for women and youth in tourism.
Khumalo thanked the outgoing Board for their diligent oversight of the entity and for ensuring governance, which had been evidenced by South African Tourism receiving an unqualified audit in the previous financial year.
“Our efforts are geared towards restoring South African Tourism to its rightful position of sector leadership from both a domestic and international tourism perspective, and the appointment of this new Board will only advance these efforts.”
Khumalo added: “As the South African Tourism executive team, we look forward to working with the incoming Board and we are confident that they have the requisite skills to propel not only South African Tourism, but also contribute towards the acceleration of the sector’s recovery.”
