Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed Proclamation 297 of 2025, empowering the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate alleged maladministration at the South African Tourism Board.
According to the Proclamation, the investigation will “focus on contracts where media buying services were paid for but either not delivered or not fully executed as stipulated in the agreements.”
The SIU will examine whether these contracts and payments “were conducted in a manner that was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, or cost-effective.”
The SIU is also authorised to probe potential violations of legislation, including relevant National Treasury guidelines, and to assess whether SA Tourism followed its own internal manuals, policies, and procedures.
SIU AUTHORISED TO INVESTIGATE THE SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM BOARD OVER ALLEGED IRREGULAR MEDIA BUYING AND SERVICES NOT RENDERED
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed a proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of serious… pic.twitter.com/IEV7BTWlTK
— Special Investigating Unit (SIU) (@RSASIU) November 24, 2025
The investigation’s scope includes “any unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure” incurred by the Board, particularly in connection with media buying services not rendered.
Proclamation 297 covers the period between 1 March 2020 and 21 November 2025, but the SIU may also investigate related conduct outside this window that is connected to the main allegations.
If the SIU uncovers evidence of criminal conduct, it will refer the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).In addition, the unit is empowered to bring civil action — in the High Court or a Special Tribunal — to recover any financial losses to the State, especially funds paid for services that were not delivered.
Tourism Minister @PatriciaDeLille welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s proclamation authorising the SIU to investigate allegations of malfeasance at South African Tourism.
The SIU is also mandated to recover any financial losses suffered by SAT and to refer any evidence of… pic.twitter.com/jzcqXfPoQx
— Aldrin Sampear (@AldrinSampear) November 25, 2025
The proclamation is unusually specific in naming “three specific invoices and purchase orders” linked to the media-buying contracts under scrutiny. The investigation will cover “any irregular, unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of SA Tourism, the applicable suppliers or service providers and any other person or entity involved in the alleged scheme.”
By authorising this probe, the Presidency aims to “recover any financial losses suffered by the State” and hold to account those implicated in the misuse of public funds.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
