Khanyi Dhlomo’s Journey From News Anchor to Media Entrepreneur

Khanyi Dhlomo is a popular name in television, publishing, and fashion. From becoming the first black newscaster on SABC1 to founding her own media company, she has made giant strides as an entrepreneur.

Born in 1974, Dhlomo grew up in KwaZulu-Natal. She attended Durban Girls’ College and later studied at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her interest in media began early. At 16, she won the Thandi Face Cover Girl competition, an experience that introduced her to the world of magazines. 

Her father was the late Oscar Dhlomo, a prominent South African academic and politician. Dhlomo has also spoken about growing up around her family’s retail businesses, which allowed her to understand entrepreneurship.

Photo: Getty Images

In 1995, while studying journalism, Dhlomo became the first black newscaster on SABC1 at 20. She moved to True Love magazine, initially working in fashion and beauty. At 22, she became the magazine’s editor. Under her leadership, circulation increased from about 70,000 to 140,000 within a year. The publication became one of South Africa’s popular women’s magazines. 

Dhlomo remained at True Love for eight years before leaving the editorship and moving to Paris. She worked as a manager for South Africa’s Tourism Board in Paris. 

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She moved to the United States for an MBA at Harvard and graduated in 2007. During her studies, she met Jonathan Newhouse of Condé Nast, who mentored her. 

After returning to South Africa, she founded Ndalo Media in partnership with Media24. The company launched Destiny magazine and later Destiny Man. She merged business, fashion and lifestyle coverage. Ndalo also launched DestinyConnect.com as its digital platform.

Photo: Getty Images

Dhlomo went into luxury retail in 2013 when she launched Luminance, a luxury multi-brand store in Johannesburg. She later left the venture. In 2017, Ndalo Media secured the South African licences for Elle and Elle Decoration.

Dhlomo’s personal life has also attracted public interest. Her early success at True Love established her as a major figure in South African publishing, while her Harvard MBA added a business dimension to her career.

In December 2018, Dhlomo announced that Ndalo Media would shut down on January 31, 2019, citing financial difficulties. The company had employed staff and operated major media brands before its shutdown.

Despite the setback, Dhlomo has remained a top figure in South African media and business. Her career has taken her from television news to magazine editing, publishing, luxury retail and entrepreneurship, making her one of the prominent figures in modern South African media.