SARA opens case with police against Department of Sport, Arts and Culture Director-General Designate Dr Cynthia Khumalo
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
The South African Roadies Association (SARA), the Newtown, Johannesburg based institution that skills the youth in the live events technical production sector, has opened a case against Department of Sport, Arts and culture (DSAC), Director-General designate Dr Cyntia Khumalo.
CITYLIFE/ARTs has learned that the association laid the charges against Khumalo at the Johannesburg Central Police Station on Monday, August 11, 2025 following an earlier complaint SARA filed with the Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture earlier this year regarding what Khumalo is alleged to have said to the Committee regarding funds disbursed to SARA By DSAC to fund the establishment of Backstage Academy SA. Backstage Academy SA is a collaboration between SARA and the UK based Academy of Live Technology, a world leader in the live events technical production education sector.
SARA President Freddie Nyathela confirmed to the publication that a case has been registered with the police against Khumalo.
“The South African Roadies Association (SARA) has opened a case against the Director-General of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Dr Cynthia Khumalo on Monday, 11, August 2025, at the Johannesburg Central Police Station, in terms of Section 17 (2) (d) (e) the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislature Act (Act 4 of 2004) for wilfully presenting the following false and misleading statements to Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture during a meeting held on the 29 October 2024. “the Backstage Academy’s lack of compliance and accounting for the monies given to it.”
“In terms of Section 17 (2) (d) (e) the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislature Act (Act 4 of 2004), states that the following “it is a criminal offence to present false and dishonest statements to Parliament and its committee”;
(d) with intent to deceive a House or committee, produces to the House or committee any false, untrue, fabricated or falsified document; or”
(e) whether during examination under section 15, willfully furnishes a House or committee with information, or makes a statement before it, which is false or misleading, commits an offence and is liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both the fine and imprisonment.
SARA was left with no choice but to open the case with the police as the Portfolio Committee and the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly have failed to address SARA’s complaint against the Director-General, and Minister Gayton McKenzie is also hiding the audit report done by The Auditor-General of South Africa regarding Backstage Academy South Africa.
SARA’s prayer, is for the Police and the NPA to do their work without fear, favour or prejudice,” Nyathela said.
CITYLIFE/ARTS approached Khumalo through DSAC’s spokesperson, Zimasi Velaphi for comment. At the time of publishing, she had not come back to us. When the publication gets comment from DSAC we will update this developing story.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzoi Ntshavheni speaking on behalf of Cabinet last week, announced the appointment of Khumalo as substantive Director-General of DSAC, after close to two years of acting in that position since the departure of then Director-General Vusumuzi Mkhize to assume the position of Chief Executive Officer of the South African Human Rights Commission.
The appointment of Khumalo is subject to the verification of her qualifications and security clearance.