Theo Baloyi is a distinguished South African entrepreneur, recognized as the founder and CEO of Bathu Shoes, a sneaker brand that celebrates African culture through its innovative designs. He has gained acclaim, including a spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, and has earned numerous awards for his leadership in business.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Theo Baloyi |
| Date of Birth | March 22, 1989 |
| Place of Birth | Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Partner | Not publicly disclosed |
| Children | Not publicly disclosed |
| Occupations | Entrepreneur; Founder & CEO of Bathu Shoes; Founder of Avenue Exchange; Former PwC Senior Associate |
| Net Worth | $3 million |
Early Life and Education
Born on March 22, 1989, in Ga-Rankuwa near Pretoria, South Africa, Theo Baloyi grew up in Phake, near Hammanskraal. His mother is Tshidi Baloyi, and his late father, Solly Baloyi, initially worked as a nurse before switching to real estate. Theo has a sister named Goitsimang.
He attended Shalom Primary School and later high school before moving to Alexandra, Johannesburg, to stay with his uncle while studying for a BCom in Accounting at the University of South Africa.
While studying, he began his entrepreneurial journey by vending perfumes door-to-door in Alexandra and consistently ranked as the top accounting student throughout his tertiary education.
Career
Following graduation, Baloyi joined PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) South Africa in their graduate programme.
His strong performance led to full employment and deployment to the Middle East, where he worked in Dubai and Saudi Arabia for around five years in asset management and strategic financial roles.
In 2015, he founded Bathu Shoes using his personal savings, starting from a small room in Alexandra. Bathu quickly expanded, now operating over 30 stores across South Africa and within the Southern African Development Community region.
Besides Bathu, Theo also founded Avenue Exchange, a cosmetics retail venture inspired by his earlier perfume sales, with locations in Pretoria, Sandton, and Limpopo. Since 2022, he has been a board member of the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC).
Personal Life
Theo Baloyi keeps his personal relationships private, with no public information about his partner or children. He attributes much of his drive and values to his family background, emphasizing resilience, hard work, and community upliftment.
Theo Baloyi Net Worth
Theo Baloyi’s net worth is estimated to be around 26 million South African Rand (approximately 3 million US dollars) as of 2025. This reflects his success primarily through Bathu Shoes and his other business ventures.
Awards and Recognitions
- Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 (2019)
- GQ Business Leader of the Year (2021)
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year at Gauteng Premier Service Excellence Awards
- Top Empowered Young Achiever at the Empowerment Awards
- Pioneer Award at the London Global African Awards
- Young Business Leader of the Year at the All Africa Business Leaders Awards
- Board member of the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC)
