By BAKANG MOKOTO
11 April 2025- The North West Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism has summoned former members of the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) on 10 April 2025, to account for persistent governance and financial challenges facing the entity. During their tenure, the former members failed to appear before the committee on two previous occasions on 4 and 18 February 2025, where they were expected to address, among other matters, delays in employee salary payments for January and February 2025.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Mpho Khunou said they became aware of financial difficulties within the entity after receiving an internal memo issued by the former acting CEO of the NWPTB, Charlene Jacobs. Khunou said, in the memo, Jacobs warned that salaries might not be paid by the end of January 2025.
“This development led to protest action by employees in response to the delayed payments. As a result, the committee invited the North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Evelyn Lenkopane, to provide insight into the general financial health of the entity, with a particular focus on the payment of salaries.
“The committee also took note of a media statement issued by Lenkopane on 25 January 2025, in which she expressed concern over the NWPTB’s financial state. She revealed that the department consistently disburses quarterly tranches to the entity, despite its ongoing struggles to pay salaries,” he said.
Khunou further said determined to ensure full accountability, the committee resolved in February 2025 to issue summonses to the former board members, regardless of the fact that their term had ended at the end of that month. He added that they are extremely pleased that the former members finally appeared before the committee.
“One of the key issues arising from the meeting was that former board members provided conflicting explanations for their absence from the 4 February 2025 meeting.
“The committee will investigate the matter further and take appropriate action should it be found that any member misled the committee. In addition, the former board members failed to provide a comprehensive plan or account of efforts to improve the financial health of the entity and ensure timely salary payments,” said Khunou.
He said the committee has since recommended that the former members submit detailed reports outlining actions taken to address the financial crisis. Khunou hailed the meeting as both groundbreaking and significant. Khunou said the meeting reaffirmed the powers of the Portfolio Committee to hold current and former board members accountable.
“It appears the former board members believed they could evade accountability during and after their tenure. The committee has lived up to its promise to the people of the North West that legal action will be taken when necessary.
“The committee also acknowledged the recent establishment of an interim board by Lenkopane and committed to continue exercising effective oversight over both the entity and the department, without fear or favour,” he said.
Khunou said the committee further identified priorities such as restoring the NWPTB to sound financial health, ensuring stability at senior management level, finalising the merger of the former Parks Board and Tourism Board and resolving the unstable labour environment, which has been marked by prolonged strikes and low staff morale for the NWPTB moving forward:
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