Halala Uhambo!

SOUTH AFRICA’S MINISTER OF TOURISM PATRICIA DE LILLE IS LEADING THE CHARGE TO REVOLUTIONISE HOW THE WORLD VISITS HER NATION.

- SUFFIAN HAKIM

“HALALA UHAMBO!" repeated in my mind ahead of my interview with Patricia de Lille. It was a phrase that a South African friend based in Malaysia taught me, which means, “Praise be to the journey!" It’s a reminder to celebrate the very act of traveling.

Few political figures possess a legacy as storied or deeply intertwined with South Africa’s modern history as Patricia de Lille. A veteran activist who fought on the front lines of the anti-apartheid movement, de Lille has spent decades shaping her nation’s democratic landscape—serving as the Mayor of Cape Town and the Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works before stepping into her current national role as the Minister of Tourism.

Today, she is channelling that same relentless, patriotic drive to establish South Africa as a global tourism powerhouse. For de Lille, tourism is far more than an economic engine; it is a vital platform for cross-cultural connection, nation-building, and digital transformation.

Fresh off the back of welcoming a record-breaking 10.5 million international visitors, de Lille has set her sights on completely reshaping how the country welcomes the world, spending much of her time meeting with potential partners and investors from target markets such as Singapore.

Sitting down with me, she discusses shifting South Africa's destination marketing entirely into the digital age, empowering local youth and women-led small businesses, and leveraging major sports spectacles.

You've had a diverse career—from serving as the Mayor of Cape Town to now leading the tourism portfolio. It's quite a significant shift. What made you accept the role and what do you enjoy most about it?

Having been in government for many years now, I've seen and done it all. I have served at the municipal level as a mayor, at the provincial level, and now at the national government level where I previously managed infrastructure and public works.