Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille revealed on Monday that R35-million linked to irregular payments, and for services not rendered, has been returned to the South African Tourism account.

De Lille confirmed that Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke was in the process of finalising a delegation from her office to undertake an audit of the SA Tourism New York office.

She explained that the recovery of funds followed months of communication with the respective media agency to pay back the money.

De Lille said she was made aware of a number of irregular payments which were made through South African Tourism’s US and South Africa offices for services not rendered.

“I was recently informed by SA Tourism that there had been a number of irregular payments and invoices noted which do not meet the definition of compliant and valid or internal control verification standards,” she explained.

She said a number of irregular invoices were created about three days before the previous financial year end – March 31, 2023 – and processed piecemeal to override banking controls.

These payments were processed from the US South Africa offices by executives who were no longer in the employment of SA Tourism, she added.

De Lille noted that these transactions were linked to a media agency and when these irregularities were discovered, the service provider was informed and conceded that a significant portion received by them and signed off by then acting CFO, acting CEO and the then COO of SA Tourism were for services not rendered.

She explained that the discovery was triggered by a review by SA Tourism.

De Lille said the irregular payments were “completely shocking” and “it is unacceptable” that officials entrusted with public funds continue to act “with such contempt of public finance laws and regulations".

She said the internal audit report was being finalised and the matter had also been reported to Maluleke to investigate.