Question NW210 to the Minister of Tourism
23 March 2022 - NW210
Moteka, Mr PG to ask the Minister of Tourism
In light of the fact that the Auditor-General has made findings that persons without identity documents were paid by the Tourism Relief Fund, what (a) is the total number of such beneficiaries and (b) action has been taken by her department in this regard?
Reply:
a) According to the Audit General of South Africa’s (AGSAs) report, a total of 869 tourist guides was reported to have had no identification numbers.
b) After conducting verifications, the Department found that all guides listed in this category had some form of identification captured against their names. This included passport/work visa numbers for non-South African citizens who, in terms of the Tourism Act, 2014 are also eligible to register as tourist guides. During the auditing process, the AGSA only verified South African identification numbers that were provided and not other forms of identification applicable to non-South African citizens. The Department has requested additional information from the respective Provincial Registrars regarding the type of identification number that was provided which will then be consolidated and sent to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for further authentication.