Johannesburg – Three members of the SA Tourism Board – Enver Duminy, Ravi Nadasen, and Rosemary Anderson – have resigned with immediate effect.
Chairperson of the SA Tourism Board, Dr. Aubrey Mhlongo on Saturday said the trio “resigned from the South African Tourism Board effective immediately”.
Dr. Mhlongo added: “As the board, we extend our sincere gratitude to Mr. Duminy, Mr. Nadasen, and Ms. Anderson for their invaluable contribution to the South African Tourism Board during their tenure and we wish them well in their future endeavours.
“We would like to thank these members for their contribution and oversight of the entity during their time while serving on the board,” said Mhlongo.”
Mhlongo especially recognised Duminy and Nadasen, as they were serving their third term on the South African Tourism Board.
Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has accepted the resignations of the three board members and thanked them for their service.
She further indicated that the process of appointing suitable replacements was underway.
The resignations come amid a storm over a proposed R1 billion sponsorship deal with English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.
- SA Tourism has proposed a three-year sponsorship deal worth £42.5 million (about R900m) with English Premier League football club, Tottenham Hotspur.
- In exchange for the investment, SA Tourism will receive kit branding, interview backdrop branding, match-day advertising, partnership announcements, training camps in SA, and free access to tickets and stadium hospitality.
The proposed deal has caused an uproar of disapproval from political parties.
Many suggest the money could be better used for other pressing problems the country is facing such as rising poverty and crime as well as serious electricity shortages.
The Presidency, which is yet to be officially briefed on the proposal, has also weighed in on the matter saying: “Even though we have not been briefed, we do not think that spending such an amount, in this manner, will be justifiable”.
To make matters worse reports have emerged of irregular dealings regarding an agency involved with the proposal.