CEO of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, Mduduzi Vilakazi, has been placed on precautionary suspension pending an investigation into alleged misconduct.
This was announced in a short press statement. An MTPA spokesperson told Travel News that there were no further details to be disclosed at this stage and that it was unknown how long the investigation would take.
Justus Mohlala will serve as Acting CEO in the interim. He was previously General Manager at MTPA.
Vilakazi served as Chief Financial Officer before taking on the post as Acting CEO in April 2022. In November 2022, MTPA employees forced Vilakazi out of his office after levelling serious allegations of corruption, maladministration and mismanagement against him. At the time, Vilakazi denied the allegations.
By February last year MTPA announced that, following a forensic audit, Vilakazi had been cleared of all charges.
Clean audits
Last week, the Agency announced that it had received a clean audit opinion from the Auditor General of South Africa. This is the successive third clean audit for the public entity of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism.
“We view the clean audit opinion as a standard that confirms that the MTPA has followed all laws and regulations in carrying out its mandate. It further gives the public an assurance that the public purse has been used for its purpose,” said an MTPA spokesperson.
“The clean audit opinion is supported by a 46% increase in revenue generation as well as an increase in international tourist arrivals, with Mpumalanga being the second-most-visited province by international tourists.”
