SA Tourism CEO says sorry after tongue-lashing from MPs

South African Tourism (SAT) acting CEO Themba Khumalo has “apologised unreservedly” to parliament's tourism portfolio committee and the public for his behaviour at a press conference in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Khumalo told MPs on Tuesday that he was sorry for “coming across in a manner that was arrogant and probably over self-confident”.

He said his behaviour was “motivated by the fact that I was under personal attack [on] social media. I felt under pressure at ... that press briefing. Please forgive me!”

Khumalo was speaking at a tourism portfolio committee meeting at which SAT appeared to account for the proposed R1bn sponsorship deal with English Premier League soccer club Tottenham Hotspur.

His apology came after he was lambasted by committee chairperson Tandi Mahambehlala, who said Khumalo spoke to South Africans as if he was speaking to his children.