Tourism Minister dares MPs fingering her in corruption to report it

JOHANNESBURG - Under fire Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has denied claims that she’s protecting corruption when she dissolved the South African (SA) Tourism board.

She said whoever has evidence of a corruption cover-up should approach the country’s law enforcement agencies.

De Lille dissolved the board citing unlawful conduct and procedural flaws, but members of Parliament (MPs) and parties are accusing her of protecting SA Tourism CEO Nombulelo Guliwe who faced disciplinary action following a board decision.

On Tuesday, De Lille appeared before the portfolio committee where she was grilled by members about her decision to remove the SA Tourism board.

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The committee also expected de Lille to consult it first before taking the decision.

But de Lille defended the decision, saying she was well within her rights to dissolve the board.

She also dared anyone with evidence that she’s protecting corruption to take it up with law enforcement.

“The chairperson said that it seems to be that I am protecting corruption. I want to say that if anybody has got any evidence that I am protecting corruption, I will advise anybody to take the evidence to the Hawks, to the police.”

De Lille said the board overstepped its powers when it took a resolution on 1 August 2025 regarding the CEO and did not follow the Tourism Act.