New Tourism B-BBEE charter council members announced

Friday, July 1, 2016

Pretoria - Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom has announced the names of the new members of the Tourism B-BBEE Charter Council at its first meeting.

On 20 November last year, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies gazetted the Amended Tourism B-BBEE Sector Code to advance transformation in the tourism sector.

Tourism was the first sector to gazette the amended B-BBEE Code, showing the commitment of tourism stakeholders to the empowerment and transformation the sector.

It also expresses the commitment to work collectively to ensure that the opportunities and benefits of the sector are extended to black South Africans.

The tourism sector is required to appoint a Charter Council consisting of industry representatives from the public and private sectors, labour and small businesses across the tourism spectrum as described in the gazetted Tourism B-BBEE Charter to monitor transformation in the tourism sector.

The Charter Council will fulfil the following roles:

•           Provide guidance on sector-specific matters effecting B-BBEE;

•           Compile reports on the status of B-BBEE within the sector, and

•           Share information with sector members, approved accreditation agencies, B-BBEE Commission, B-BBEE Presidential Advisory Council, the Line Minister and the Minister of Trade and Industry pertaining to B-BBEE in the sector.

The following Charter Council members have been appointed for a period of three years, commencing on 30 June 2016:

1.         Dr Vuyo Mahlati (Chairperson): National Planning Commissioner in the Presidency

2.         Ms Shamilla Chettiar: Deputy Director General for Policy and Knowledge Services at the National Department of Tourism

3.         Mr Blacky Komani: CEO of Tourvest Duty Free on the Ground

4.         Ms Gail Westphal: General Manager of Gooderson Leisure

5.         Mr Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa: CEO of Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA)

6.         Mr Mohamed Baba: Managing Director at Ilios Travel

7.         Mr Adriaan Liebetrau: CEO of Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI)

8.         Mr Ravi Nadasen: Director Operations at Tsogo Sun

9.         Ms Nyeleti Mushuana: CEO of Karibu Hotel & Conference Centre

10.        Ms Mmatšatši Ramawela: CEO of Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA)

11.        Mr Duma Gqubule: Founder of KIO Advisory Services

12.        Ms Heather Prinsloo: Former Divisional Director: Transformation for the City Lodge Hotel Group. She is now Human Resource Executive at City Property Administration

13.        Mr Nicholus Maziya: Deputy Secretary General of South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU)

14.        Mrs Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo: Divisional Director: Operations at the City Lodge Hotel Group

Minister Hanekom said he was confident that the diverse and capable team would fast-track transformation in the sector.

“All stakeholders, including businesses, the public and associations in the tourism sector should use this collective to raise issues affecting them, and to share best practice models to ensure the tourism sector is in the forefront of transformation in South Africa,” said Minister Hanekom. – SAnews.gov.za