De Lille says R35 million linked to irregular payments was recovered by SA Tourism

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said on Monday that R35 million linked to irregular payments for services not rendered has been returned to the SA Tourism account.

SA Tourism is the official tourism marketing agency of South Africa and an entity of the Department of Tourism.

According to the South African government news agency website, several of the irregular payments were made for services not rendered by South African Tourism’s US and South Africa offices.

SA TOURISM HAS HUB OFFICES IN KEY SOURCE MARKET COUNTRIES

As part of its mandate, SA Tourism has hub offices in key source market countries around the world to enable officials to interact with key partners in executing their duties of promoting and marketing South Africa as a top travel destination.
 
“I was recently informed by SA Tourism that there had been a number of irregular payments and invoices noted, which do not meet the definition of compliant and valid or internal control verification standards.  
 
“A number of irregular invoices were created about three days before the previous financial year end, which ended on 31 March 2023 and processed piecemeal to override banking controls,” De Lille explained. 
 
Executives who are no longer working for the agency, the Minister said, processed these payments, from the United States and South Africa offices of SA Tourism at the end of March 2023. 

However, it was then discovered that the services for which the payment was made were not provided.

‘UNACCEPTABLE’

“These irregular payments are completely shocking and it is unacceptable that officials entrusted with public funds continue to act with such contempt of public finance laws and regulations. We will not leave this matter unaccounted for. The internal audit report is being finalised and the matter has also been reported to the Auditor-General of South Africa to investigate,” De Lille said.
 
Communication ensued with the respective media agency to pay back R35 million for services not rendered. 
 
“We are relieved that all the money has been recovered from the irregular payments. I can also confirm that the Auditor-General of South Africa is in the process of finalising a delegation from the AG’s office to do an audit on the SA Tourism New York office,” she added.

The Department of Tourism made headlines in early 2023 when it was reported that it was in negotiations for a near R1 billion deal to sponsor English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

[MEDIA STATEMENT] R35million in irregular payments recovered by SA Tourismhttps://t.co/CqBabrSids@PatriciaDeLille #WeDoTourism pic.twitter.com/Lahu62jkTM

— Dept of Tourism (@Tourism_gov_za) April 29, 2024