SA Tourism Board’s Former Case Struck Off Urgent Roll

An urgent court application brought by six former members of the South African Tourism (SAT) board against their removal from office was struck off the urgent roll in the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday. The application sought a court order to declare their dismissal unlawful and to reinstate them to the board.

The applicants included Enver Duminy, Ravi Nadasen, Rosemary Anderson, Prof. Lekhanya, Mduduzi Kunene, and Nomonde Bam. They were removed from the SAT board by Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille on April 14, following a controversial proposed £90 million sponsorship deal with the English football club Tottenham Hotspur. The interim SAT board, which included these former members, had approved this deal.

Background to the Dismissal

The proposed Tottenham Hotspur sponsorship deal, announced on February 7, generated significant public and political backlash due to its perceived high cost and questionable timing amidst other national priorities. Minister de Lille had previously expressed her opposition to the deal and initiated an investigation into the processes that led to its approval.

Following the public outcry and her own assessment, Minister de Lille removed the board members. The former board members subsequently launched their urgent application, arguing that their removal was not procedurally fair and was unlawful, seeking immediate reinstatement.

Court’s Decision and Implications

The presiding judge determined that the matter was not sufficiently urgent to warrant a place on the urgent roll. The judge suggested that the applicants had adequate alternative remedies available, implying that the case should be pursued through an ordinary court application process.

As a result of the ruling, the former board members were ordered to pay the costs of the application. This decision means they will need to pursue the matter through the regular court system, a process that could be protracted. The current SAT board, under the leadership of Chairperson Thandiwe Rakhale-Mashalaba, remains in place following the court’s decision.

Key Points

• £90 million: The proposed value of the sponsorship deal with Tottenham Hotspur.
• February 7: The date the Tottenham Hotspur sponsorship deal was announced.
• April 14: The date the former South African Tourism board members were removed from office.
• Six: The number of former board members who brought the urgent court application.

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