South African Tourism Chief Financial Officer Johan van der Walt was handed a suspension notice on Tuesday afternoon.
The letter instructed the CFO to explain why he should not be suspended following the failed deal with Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
“He has been given a letter to give reasons why he should not be suspended and he has not responded to that letter,” SA Tourism board chairperson Thozamile Botha said.
Van der Walt was linked to an agency found in the Spurs sponsorship proposal that was scrapped last week.
The chief is believed to be the director of several companies linked to the WWP Group sports agency, the Daily Maverick reported.
However, SA Tourism CEO Themba Khumalo said at a media conference that there would be no agency involved in the deal.
It was then revealed that the WWP Group would receive R31 million to make sure “everything is 100% in place by 1 July 2023 when the season kicks off”.
Botha claimed the board was not aware of the potential conflict of interest.
SA Tourism faced mass backlash after proposing a R900-million deal to sponsor the London club from next season.
If the deal had been struck, the state-owned company would get kit branding, interview backdrops, match-day advertising, training camps in South Africa and free access to tickets and stadium hospitality.
Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
Pictured above: SA Tourism logo
Image source: Twitter
