BBBEE

The Department of Tourism is working hand in hand with stakeholders to ensure the safety of tourists when they visit South Africa. Image: SA Tourism.

Spurs sponsorship scandal costs SA Tourism CEO his job

Acting CEO of SA Tourism Themba Khumalo has reportedly resigned the post in the fallout from the failed Spurs sponsorship bid.

BBBEE

The Department of Tourism is working hand in hand with stakeholders to ensure the safety of tourists when they visit South Africa. Image: SA Tourism.

Acting CEO of SA Tourism Themba Khumalo has reportedly resigned the post in the fallout from the failed bid to become a sponsor of English Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur.

The deal was cancelled after details were leaked to the press prior to the completion of an agreement and Khumalo appears to have been made to fall on his sword.

Spurs deal fallout continues

ALSO READ: SA Tourism guns for whistleblower who leaked R1bn Spurs deal

SA Tourism spokesperson Zara Nicolson has confirmed that tourism minister Patricia de Lille has received Khumalo’s resignation.

“Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille was informed by the interim SA Tourism Board about the resignation of Themba Khumalo with immediate effect,” Nicholson said. 

ALSO READ: Cyril Ramaphosa shoots down R1 billion plan to sponsor Spurs

“Minister De Lille has noted the resignation and wishes Mr Khumalo well in his future endeavours.”

SA Tourism board cleared out

ALSO READ: Sisulu denies involvement in controversial R1 billion tourism proposal to Tottenham Hotspur

Son Heung-min
Spurs players. Photo: PA images.

Khumalo’s departure from his role now brings to 12 the number of SA Tourism board members to have resigned since news of the prospective deal first surfaced.

In February a trio of board members in Enver Duminy, Ravi Nadasen and Rosemary Anderson were the first to depart.

ALSO READ: DA to send delegation on fact-finding mission regarding R1bn proposal

The Minister led calls for change.

“Looking at the value of what we can benefit as South Africans or as a country, you have to weigh that up against other priorities within our country,” De Lille said.

With Tim Harris appointed as the interim chair of the board with De Lille poised to gazette the stand-in executive in May.

A statement from the ministry read: “Minister De Lille had a fruitful and frank discussion with the interim SA Tourism board and the director-general of the Department of Tourism, outlining key outcomes and areas of work we need to work on urgently to ensure that the SA Tourism interim board, the SA Tourism executive and the Department of Tourism can work together efficiently to grow inclusive tourism for the country.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES BY JAMES RICHARDSON