Ayanda Daweti Biography: Music Movies, Awards, Wife, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Height, Ethnicity, Parents

Ayanda Daweti, also known by his stage name Tuckshop Bafanaz, is a South African actor, musician, and fashion entrepreneur.

He rose to prominence portraying Chumani Langa in the E.tv soap opera Scandal! and later as Sizwe in Mzansi Magic’s Gomora.

On screen, he’s known for playing complex characters, while off screen, he channels his creativity into music under the Igwijo Wave style and a fashion line, Tuckshop Wear.

Profile

• Full name: Ayanda Daweti
• Nickname: Tuckshop Bafanaz
• Date of birth: January 1, 1990
• Age: 35 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Tsolo, Eastern Cape, South Africa
• State of origin: Eastern Cape
• Nationality: South African
• Profession: Actor, musician, fashion designer
• Height: 1.7 m
• Parents: Nomalizo Daweti (mother; deceased)
• Siblings: N/A
• Spouse: Aaliyah (married 2022)
• Children: None
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: N/A
• Ethnicity: Xhosa
• Net worth: R8.3 million

Early Life and Education

Ayanda Daweti was born on January 1, 1990, in Tsolo, Eastern Cape. When he was thirteen, his mother, Nomalizo Daweti, passed away from heart complications in her sleep.

Following her death, he moved to live with his aunt, Stella Sondaba, and grandmother, Nomonde Sondaba, in Mhlakulo, Tsolo. Later, he relocated to Johannesburg before moving to Cape Town after completing matric.

There, he began studying IT before enrolling at Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria to study Arts. He also attended the Market Theatre Laboratory and Duma Ndlovu Acting Academy, though he faced financial struggles along the way.

Personal Life

Ayanda married model Aaliyah in 2022. In his teenage years, he was in a relationship with a girl named Xola from 2007 until she died in a car accident in 2010; he later released the song “Xola” in her remembrance. He does not have any children, and beyond his late mother, he has not publicly disclosed any siblings or his religious affiliation.

Career

Ayanda began his career in acting, landing the role of Chumani Langa on Scandal! in 2009, where he portrayed a younger character than his age and became widely known.

After four years on Scandal! His contract wasn’t renewed, and he transitioned to playing Sizwe in Gomora in 2022, moving from a privileged soap character to a crime-involved gangster. He also played the lead role in the 2022 film Inhlanhla and appeared in the 2024 Showmax drama Soft Life as Siv Makhaza.

In addition to acting, he performs music under the name Tuckshop Bafanaz. He released a six-track debut EP and a tribute album in 2019, dedicated to his mother. Earlier singles include “Amadabi,” and he has collaborated with artists like Mtee and Aubrey Qwana.

In fashion, he launched his Tuckshop Wears line in 2018 and promotes his street-style apparel on social media. Additionally, he has engaged in philanthropy, donating school shoes to schools in the Eastern Cape through partnerships with the Ikamva Lethu Foundation.

Awards

• 2018: Golden Horn Award for Best Made for TV Movie (SAFTA) Okae Molao

Net worth

Ayanda Daweti’s net worth is estimated at R8.3 million. His income stems from acting roles in soap operas, film projects, music production and sales, his fashion brand, and philanthropic endeavours.

Social Media

• Instagram: @ayandadaweti_
• Twitter/X: @ayandadaweti_
• TikTok: @ayandadaweti_

Filmography

• Scandal! as Chumani Langa (2009–2022)
• Gomora as Sizwe (2022–present)
• Inhlanhla (2022)
• Soft Life as Siv Makhaza (2024)
• Blood Psalms (2020)

Discography

• Amadabi
• Indlela
• Thongo Lam
• Xola