The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture announced on Friday morning that Dr Cynthia Ntombifuthi Khumalo had been appointed as its first female director-general.
“The Minister of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), Gayton McKenzie, is proud to announce the appointment of Dr Cynthia Ntombifuthi Khumalo, affectionately known as ‘Stella’, as the first woman to serve as Director-General of the Department. This is a historic moment for DSAC, for South Africa, and for every young woman aspiring to lead at the highest levels of public service,” a DSAC statement said.
Born in KwaZulu-Natal, Khumalo’s journey reflects determination, excellence, and service. She has built her career through relentless hard work, a commitment to making a difference and a calm, steady leadership style that inspires confidence in those around her.
“Her professional career spans over three decades, beginning as an educator, progressing to deputy principal and later holding senior leadership positions in education, tourism, cultural affairs and governance. She has served as head of fepartment, CEO of the KZN Liquor Authority and Durban Marine Theme Park (uShaka Marine World) and most recently as Deputy Director-General in DSAC, where she also acted as Director-General since March 2023,” the statement further said.
Khumalo has successfully managed multi-billion-rand budgets, driven policy development and ensured clean governance in every role she has held. Under her leadership, institutions have received multiple awards, including the SAIGA Annual Public Sector Reporting Award and Trip Advisor’s Hall of Fame recognition, and consistently achieved clean audits.
She is also the recipient of the regional Businesswomen Achievement Award (Government Category, 2016) and the SHERO Award (Public Service Category, 2018), recognising her as a trailblazer in leadership.
“Dr Khumalo embodies excellence, calm under pressure, and an unwavering work ethic. Her leadership inspires trust, and her dedication sets the standard for all of us. Her appointment isn’t just about breaking the glass ceiling, it’s about showing what real leadership looks like,” McKenzie said.
“She brings integrity, fresh ideas and the kind of inclusive leadership our sector needs right now. Her vision for sport, arts and culture is bold and rooted in transformation, nation-building, and creating real opportunities for our young people and the creative industries.”
