DA repeats call for urgent investigation into abuse allegations against Tourism DG

30 September 2024

In response to a Parliamentary Question, Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, has revealed that she has forwarded abuse allegations against Tourism Director-General, Victor Tharage, to the President and is awaiting his response for an investigation to commence.

Per the Public Servants Act and Labour Relations Act, only the President is empowered to hire, investigate or fire Director-Generals and Deputy Director-Generals. We therefore call on President Ramaphosa to commence on an investigation against Tharage urgently.

Tharage faces allegations of abuse which date to 2016, including against female employees, which have sat on the desks of various Ministers.

It cannot be allowed for a senior government official to face repeated allegations for 8 years without probe. The Public Servants Association, the majority union representing public servants has also written to Minister de Lille with alarm calling for an investigation against Tharage.

Our public servants must be of the highest ethical standards, and we cannot allow for officials to be allegedly disrupting the work of government, as well as allegedly violating the rights of employees to work in a safe conducive environment.

As our economic growth has stalled, Tourism presents great opportunity as an economic enabler. While the Department is clouded by allegations of impropriety, this important work cannot be fulfilled.

Issued by Haseena Ismail, DA Spokesperson on Tourism, 30 September 2024