New Tourism PE boss has ID hassles

By Max Matavire, Municipal Reporter

TOURISM PE’s new chief executive officer, Solomon Khunou, could not start work at the beginning of this month because he does not have a South African identity document.

He is now expected to start next month – if his papers are in order by then.

Mr Khunou, 34, was born in South Africa to South African parents but left the country for Botswana during the liberation struggle when he was very young.

When he was appointed to the post in August this year, he did not have a South African ID but showed proof of having applied for one.

Tourism PE board chairman Myekeni Seyisi said yesterday Mr Khunou had produced a document showing he applied for a South African ID in March.

Mr Seyisi said under normal circumstances Mr Khunou should have got his ID in June. “He produced proof that he had applied for an ID and showed his waiting pass. Normally it takes about two months to get a new ID, but his has taken long,” said Mr Seyisi.

“When he checked with the department of home affairs, he was told his name did not appear in their computers and there was no record of his application – which means they might have misplaced it.” Mr Khunou had now applied for a special permit which can be processed fast to enable him to start work next month.

Mr Khunou won the post ahead of acting chief Keith Wattrus who also applied.

He holds a degree in Economics and Accounting from the University of Botswana and an MA degree (Tourism and Hospitality) from Bournemouth University in the UK.

He was involved in the first-ever Botswana national tourism master plan and the national eco-tourism strategy for that country. Mr Khunou has been an active member of the Botswana tourism department’s marketing unit for the past eight years and represented the country at international trade and tourism fairs.

---

Previous

news

Next