What should have been a triumph for the Tourism Board ended in turmoil.
"I have lost all confidence in the management and board of the organisation," said Van Schalkwyk. In a statement released to the Knysna-Plett Herald, hours after the closing of the meeting, he wrote that confidential information had been leaked and that said information was discussed at the AGM, a public forum. Van Schalkwyk said that such "humiliating and unprofessional" action damaged his reputation and might have major repercussion in his future career options.
“Based on various discussions over the last two days and the humiliation endured at tonight’s AGM by the exposé of confidential information at Knysna Tourism Board level, I believe my reputation and respect within the Knysna community was compromised and therefore I tender my immediate resignation as marketing manager of the organisation."
Van Schalkwyk also referred to an attack by Lisette Withers, owner of the Knysna Elephant Park (KEP) at the end of the meeting. She demanded that question related to Vogt's appointment be answered. Withers said she had not been contacted for a reference before Vogt's appointment, despite the fact that she had previously employed him. She also demanded an apology from Knysna Tourism for the way in which she and her business had been treated, following recent allegations of animal abuse at one of her former enterprises. Withers questioned Knysna Tourism's issuing of a media statement distancing itself from KEP, shortly before the investigative television programme Carte Blanche broadcast an episode dealing with the widely reported elephant abuse issue.
When she did not get an apology she alleged that Van Schalkwyk had to repay an amount of R10 000, an expense he allegedly incurred for accommodation for family members during the Knysna Oyster Festival. Vogt tried to explain that the matter was an internal one and that it had been dealt with. “This account was paid by Van Schalkwyk out of his own pocket. Knysna Tourism did not pay for this,” he said.
Withers also supplied each person at the meeting with a parcel. While attendees initially thought the the parcels were gifts from Knysna Tourism, it soon became apparent that they were from Withers and contained copies of all correspondence related to the elephant saga.
This was preceded by Vogt giving feedback on and congratulating his team for the fact that the organisation was more than R800 000 in the black after being in the red only a year ago. He also commended everybody's efforts, especially Van Schalkwyk’s, in securing for Knysna Tourism a "successful" share in the social media market as well as the successful incorporation of the brand, Naturally Knysna, in the organisation's campaigns.
Knysna Oyster Festival organiser Nicci Rousseau-Schmidt announced that the past festival generated more than R2-million for local charities for the first time, and added that the festival's success "shows what Knysna is all about". Vogt received Knysna Tourism members' full support for his efforts to "move the organisation forward". Vogt referred to the "complexity of the alliance between Knysna Tourism and the Knysna Municipality" and explained Knysna Tourism's responsibility to support local economic development. He said that all businesses from all sectors would be invited to join the organisation to "reflect what the town has got to offer".
Three members were voted to the Tourism Board.
When news broke after the AGM that Van Schalkwyk had resigned, a disappointed Vogt said that he would discuss the matter with Van Schalkwyk and that he still had hope that they would see eye to eye. On Wednesday, August 27, Vogt said the organisation was and remained transparent regarding this issue. He said the finacial matter that contributed to Van Schalkwyk's decision to resign, had been clarified long before the meeting. “The invoice made out to Knysna Tourism was explained to a staff member when she queried it." Vogt said that the invoice was always meant for Van Schalkwyk’s personal account and that it was never Knysna Tourism's intention to foot the bill. "This matter was explained. I can understand Van Schalkwyk’s disappointment in this information getting to Lisette Withers."
Van Schalkwyk said that all he wanted was for the CEO and the Tourism Board to stand up and state publicly there were no grounds for these allegations. “This is a non-issue. It was a pro-forma quote for accommodation for my family, not an invoice. I did not accept the quote because of the price and the accommodation was never booked. The fact that this was queried by a staff member in the first place is mind boggling." Van Schalkwyk made the relevant communication available to the Knysna-Plett Herald.
Following the resignation of Knysna Tourism marketing manager, Johan van Schalkwyk after last night’s (August 26) Knysna Tourism AGM Greg Vogt, Knysna Tourism CEO gave an official statement.
“A member of Knysna Tourism alleged that Johan was involved in financial irregularities. These allegations were unfounded and resulted in Johan’s public profile being tarnished,” explained Vogt.
Van Schalkwyk said that Vogt had not explained the matter clearly enough during the AGM, resulting in Van Schalkwyk being left to look as though he had defrauded Tourism. “Based on the humiliation endured during the AGM I believe that my resignation was possibly the only way in which I could retain my integrity. No basis for the allegation was ever discussed and therefor I was shocked to hear this in a public forum. I categorically state that I have never done anything that may jeopardise my position within Tourism or my personal life and my integrity.”
Vogt concluded: “On behalf of Knysna Tourism I state that there was never any reason to doubt Johan’s complete transparency and integrity. I therefore, as CEO of Knysna Tourism publically apologisefor not expressing this succinctly during the AGM which resulted in Johan being left in the situation where his integrity is being compromised. I have requested that he withdraws his resignation and hope that he will reconsider"
Knysna Tourism Board from left: Ypie Kigma,Kathy White, Greg Vogt, Phillip Hendrickse, Steven De Vries, Shane Kidwell, Louise Hart and MowandeKondlo. Joe Melville was absent when the photograph was taken. Eleanore Spies officially resigned from the board and Nan Raturat's time had ended.
ARTICLE: INGRID ERLANK, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD EDITOR
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