The disciplinary case against suspended SA Tourism CEO Nombulelo Guliwe remains unresolved with related expenses of R6.18 million (US$374 000) in just over a year.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille says Guliwe, who remains suspended, received a salary of R3.6 million (US$218 000) between August 2025 and September 2026. Legal fees amounted to R1.8 million (US$109 000) while the interim CEO’s salary between June and September 2026 cost another R751 165 (US$45 500).
De Lille disclosed the costs in response to a parliamentary question from ANC MP Atilia Hlongo who questioned the delay in finalising the case and ongoing expenditure.
Guliwe was suspended by the previous SA Tourism Board in August 2025 following findings by the Auditor-General and a forensic investigation of a R4.1 million (US$248 000) advance payment to a production company for marketing services. Guliwe, who was SA Tourism’s CFO at the time, was among the executives who authorised the payment. Investigators could not establish that SA Tourism received value for the expenditure.
De Lille challenged the suspension and subsequently dissolved the Board on August 19, 2025, saying the suspension was unlawful.
The newly appointed Board is set to take the disciplinary process forward, according to De Lille at the Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Tourism on August 25.
EFF MP Ngwanamakwetle Mashabela asked De Lille for an update on the disciplinary process.
De Lille said the new Board met with senior counsel involved in the case who briefed them on the history of the disciplinary proceedings, the legal issues and how he recommended proceeding.
The Board decided to abide by the appeal chairperson’s ruling that the matter must be referred to a different chairperson to consider a point in limine raised by Guliwe. This preliminary legal objection must be dealt with before the disciplinary proceedings can progress further.
SA Tourism declined to provide a further update on the case.
