Phindile Baleni

Phindile Baleni (; born 1966 or 1967) is a South African lawyer and civil servant who has been the director-general of the Presidency of South Africa since April 2021. She was formerly the director-general in the office of the Premier of Gauteng, David Makhura, from 2015 to 2021. Before that, she was the chief executive officer of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa from 2011 to 2015.

Early life and career Baleni was born in 1966 or 1967 in Soweto, and she grew up in Katlehong on the East Rand. She attended high school in the nearby township of Vosloorus, matriculating at age sixteen. Shortly afterwards, Minister Blade Nzimande additionally appointed her as chairperson of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Seta.

She remained at NERSA until February 2015, when she announced that she was resigning in order to return to the Gauteng Government, now as director-general in the office of the Premier of Gauteng, David Makhura. She joined Makhura's office in March 2015. She had been viewed as a frontrunner for the position since the retirement of the former incumbent, Cassius Lubisi, in September 2020.

In November 2022, Baleni's contract was extended by five years, and in April 2024 President Ramaphosa appointed her and Mike Mabuyakhulu to head a task team to resolve inefficiencies at the Port of Durban. However, the Mail & Guardian reported that she had a tense relationship with Ramaphosa's chief of staff, Roshene Singh, and she reportedly received death threats related to the Presidency's processing of the Zondo Commission report on state capture.

Personal life Baleni has one child. She is married to trade unionist Frans Baleni, a former general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers.