Ayakha Ntunja is one of South Africa’s most exciting young actresses to watch. Best known for playing Amo in the hit Showmax teen drama Youngins and Qhawekazi “Qhawe” Mabandla in the Mzansi Magic series Inimba, she has quickly moved from theatre stages to prime-time screens with a presence that feels both grounded and magnetic.
Profile Summary
| Full name | Ayakha Ntunja |
| Date of birth | 2004 |
| Place of birth | Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Province of origin | Eastern Cape |
| Partner | N/W |
| Children | N/A |
| Occupations | Actress, influencer, dancer, former theatre performer |
| Net worth | $150,000 – $300,000 |
Early Life and Education
Ayakha was born in 2004 in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) in the Eastern Cape. She is the middle child in a family of three siblings. Long before she stepped in front of a camera, she was already performing, swimming and dancing competitively, and even considering a dance academy in London at one point.
Her turn toward acting came in grade 8, when a friend talked her into auditioning for a school play. That single decision changed everything. She fell in love with the craft immediately. After matriculating in 2021, she moved to Johannesburg to study at the National School of the Arts, where she trained formally in acting and began building the foundation for her screen career.
Career
Ayakha started acting in 2016, mostly in theatre, where she also wrote and developed her own work. Her first television appearance came in 2021 with a role in the Showmax film Pearls of Wisdom.
Over the next couple of years, she appeared in several Mzansi Magic productions, including Ubizo Lakhe and Ke Bona Spoko, and gained wider attention in 2023 as Thembi in season three of MTV Shuga: Down South.
Her real breakthrough arrived in 2024 with Youngins. Cast as the lead character Amo Mosweu, a determined rural girl navigating life, love and scandal at a Johannesburg boarding school, she delivered a performance that felt deeply personal and relatable.
Since then, she has continued to book major roles. She played Ovayo in the 2024 film Intlawulo, took on the starring role of Qhawekazi “Qhawe” Mabandla in Inimba, and led the 2025 film Loved Out as Vazu. By 2026, she had become a regular feature in lifestyle media, even landing the cover of True Love Magazine.
Personal Life
Away from the spotlight, Ayakha keeps her private life low-key. She has spoken about returning to swimming and dance in her downtime, using movement to reset and stay balanced. She also spends time writing scripts, poems, and notes to herself, as part of her creative process and preparation for new roles.
As of 2026, there is no publicly available information about a long-term partner or children. She tends to focus her public presence on her work, wellness, and advocacy around mental health.
Net Worth
Ayakha Ntunja’s estimated net worth is in the range of $150,000 to $300,000 (approximately R2.8 million to R5.6 million) as of 2026.
Filmography
Television
- Pearls of Wisdom (2021, Showmax) – Dudu
- NTASH (2021, short)
- Ubizo Lakhe (2022, Mzansi Magic)
- Ke Bona Spoko (2022, Mzansi Magic)
- MTV Shuga: Down South (2023, season 3, BET Africa) – Thembi
- Youngins (2024–, Showmax) – Amo Mosweu (lead)
- Inimba (2025–present, Mzansi Magic) – Qhawekazi “Qhawe” Mabandla (starring)
Film
- Mimo wa Lerato (2022)
- Intlawulo (2024) – Ovayo
- Loved Out (2025) – Vazu (lead)
Awards and Recognition
Ayakha’s early recognition came from the performing-arts world before she transitioned fully to screen acting:
- 2019 – Festival of Excellence in Dramatic Arts (FEDA) – Acting Award – Won
- 2020 – Best Performer Full Colours Awards – Best Choreographer of the Year – Won
- 2020 – Best Performer Full Colours Awards – Best Dancer of the Year – Won
- 2026 – Africa Choice Awards – Most Promising Movie Star of the Year – Nominated/Pending
These honors reflect her full-spectrum background as an actress, dancer and choreographer.
