So, Where Did Khanyi Dhlomo Go?

I was in Grade 9, around the age of 14 years old, when during a Life Orientation class, I loudly and proudly declared to the rest of my all-female class that

“One day I’m going to be the next Khanyi Dhlomo”

It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that as a young, black girl who loved writing, reading and paging through magazines purchased by my mother, that I wanted to be like the black premium media doyenne of South Africa. By that time, most of us South African black girls were familiar with the media darling that was Ms Dhlomo: she had graced our screens as a news anchor in the late nineties, she achieved the then-historic feat of turning around a near-ailing True Love Magazine, had famously dated South Africa’s first astronaut and she had captivating, delicate facial features that made her a sight to behold. She was the gold standard.

She had yet to blow us all away and launch Destiny Magazine at the time of my afore-mentioned declaration. That was to come in 2008. I know Khanyi Dhlomo’s entire career history and timeline, which is what has made this piece so painful to write.

Stay with me.

It was 2004 and Khanyi Dhlomo was serving as the manager of South Africa's Tourism Board in Paris, France. She took on this role after a successful tenure as editor of True Love magazine, where she significantly increased its circulation – notably doubling sales in under 18 months. Her work in Paris involved promoting South Africa as a tourist destination to the French market during the post-sanctions era. After her time in Paris, she pursued an MBA at Harvard Business School, graduating in 2007.

And then, she did it…

I cannot remember exactly what I was doing when, in my first year at Wits University in Johannesburg, I learned that Khanyi was to blow us all away: she was back in SA, and had launched her very own publication, Destiny Magazine. On the inaugural cover? Khanyi Dhomo herself- ‘my idol’. I remember the first cover vividly: arms folded, a black shift dress, French updo, a dazzling smile and black eyeliner with deep red font marking the words ‘DESTINY’. She had done it. She had totally taken my breath away, setting the standard for media success yet again.

Destiny Magazine was a powerful South African monthly publication that blended business, lifestyle, and fashion content; targeting accomplished, stylish, and intellectually curious women engaged in or interested in business. The glossy’s pages filled a void for business and financial information that connected, supported, and inspired women across multiple generations of professionals, entrepreneurs, businesswomen, and general business enthusiasts. To complete reading an issue of Destiny magazine was to walk away smarter, savvier and hungrier for success. To be featured in Destiny was a symbol of elegance, relevance and affluence.

Time went on and we witnessed Destiny Magazine and its publishing house, Ndalo Media expand its repertoire to include Destiny MAN, DestinyCONNECT and a designated career satellite, MentorFeed. We hailed the media doyenne when news broke that Ndalo Media would be acquiring Elle Magazine from Conde Nast.

Then it all went south.

Over the years I have spoken to many interested and like-minded people and together the theories have been sequenced;

“The purchase of the sinking Elle Magazine caused financial losses”

“Print died and digital took over”

“The content was no unique to what you could find online”

Ultimately, on one fateful day the story of countless journalists, writers and editors receiving the news that Ndalo Media would cease its publication, without prior warning, resulting in job-losses, caused shock waves across the country as we were constantly met with articles and radio interviews of staff members whom were told that their pensions would not be paid out due to financial constraints and the like.

We were angry, confused and left with many questions. Surely there had been some mistake.

I’ve been privy to discussions and matters concerning what really happened at Ndalo. The stories I’ve heard have broken my heart many times over. How could the staff not have been given a briefing of sorts? Did she/they see this coming? Why didn’t she say anything? Where is she now and what is she doing? The omnipresent thoughts linger every time I care enough to stop and glance at the magazine racks that prelude the tills.

I wish she knew the power of honesty.

I also understand that the world is unforgiving when a woman has erred, and perhaps she simply struggled to come to terms with what was actually happening.

Her Instagram page is dark whilst the DestinyCONNNECT page has remained frozen in time. Maybe one day she will tell her story.

I hope she knows that we adored her, loved her and are so thankful for all the ways she elevated conversations about black wealth, ownership, and representation in media. We could do with some uplifting content right about now.

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Here are this week’s recommendations

Here is a series of ten very short stories written for Prada’s spring/summer 2025 campaign.

I keep coming back to this tour of this stunning Wellesley, Massachusetts house.

Parent or not, please watch this video on how EdTech is actually not good for our childrens’ future.

My Mom sent me this story of the Soweto dad who earns a living by waiting in bank queues.

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Love

Masa.