Tourism boss in more hot water
Whistleblower allegations lead to disciplinary inquiry for suspended CEO Sisa Ntshona.
Claim long, drawnout process is prejudicing suspended CEO Ntshona.
Six months after being suspended by the SA Tourism board on unidentified allegations and on full pay, the national tourism agency’s CEO, Sisa Ntshona, is facing an internal inquiry.
In the interim, four board members – Pam Yako (chair), Tanya Abrahamse (deputy chair), Mohamed Baba and David Frost – have resigned and two new members, Zola Tshefu and Siyabonga Dube, have been appointed.
Ntshona was suspended on April 1 after the board received an anonymous tip-off from a whistleblower. The details of the allegations have never been revealed.
At the time, the board stated that it was “obligated to thoroughly investigate the allegations” in the interest of all parties concerned.
The department of tourism confirmed to parliament in July that the investigation into Ntshona had been finalised.
However, Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane and SA Tourism interim chair Ravi Nadasen confirmed to Moneyweb in separate statements on Wednesday that an internal inquiry into the allegations surrounding Ntshona is now under way.
“The forensic investigation has been completed by Bowmans,” the minister said.
“A report was handed over to SA Tourism and shared with me, with recommendations that led to an internal process that started in September.”
Kubayi-Ngubane said the details will only be revealed once the process has been concluded.
Moneyweb sent questions to SA Tourism and received a brief statement attributed to interim chair Nadasen: “The investigation has been completed and an internal process is under way. The dayto-day operations have continued with the SA Tourism Exco team led by acting CEO Sthembiso Dlamini leading the organisation while we conclude this matter.”
Responding to Moneyweb queries, Ntshona’s spokesperson, Lauretta Ngakane, lamented the long, drawn-out process, which she said is prejudicing Ntshona.
She added that while the SA Tourism board informed parliament on July 4 that the forensic audit report had been finalised, Ntshona was only notified on July 24 that he must attend a disciplinary inquiry, on August 13 and 14.
“The CEO acknowledged and confirmed his attendance, but on August 6 the board postponed the disciplinary inquiry due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’, with no new revised dates. On August 21, the CEO’s legal team then informed the SA Tourism board of its intention to approach the CCMA [to open a case of] unfair labour practice due to lack of movement on their side.”
Following this, said Ngakane, the board informed Ntshona of a revised disciplinary inquiry dated for September 13 and 18.
“We can confirm that the inquiry process has taken place on [those dates], with a continuance scheduled for October 22.”
Ngakane said Ntshona’s suspension was never based on any performance issues.
Asked if Ntshona had considered resigning, she added: “Mr Ntshona has no intention of resigning.”
Asked if there was a leadership vacuum during Ntshona’s sixmonth suspension, Kubayi-Ngubane said: “My understanding and the report that I have received is that the executive has been functioning well. I maintain that everyone has a right to fair process. It is only appropriate to afford the parties [time] to properly conclude their process without prejudice.”