Temba Bavuma Profile: Age, Date of Birth and Career Info

Temba Bavuma Profile

Temba Bavuma is a right-handed middle-order batsman who currently captains the South African national side.

Temba Bavuma Family & Early Life

Birth & Hometown

Temba Bavuma was born on May 17, 1990 in Rubusana Avenue, Langa, which is a township near Cape Town in South Africa. He grew up near the Langa Cricket Club where the regular street cricket plays shaped his interest and talent for the game.

Parents & Upbringing

His father, Vuyo Buvama, was a journalist who held strong Christian values. His father put a lot of emphasis on education as well. His mother, Phumza Buvama, worked in the petroleum and energy sector, but since information about her is less known, this is not confirmed. He also has two siblings - brother Phola Bavuma and sister Phila Bavuma. His uncles Mongezi and Tengo Sokhanyile, were the ones who took him to Langa Cricket Club and shaped him and his love for cricket from an early age.

Temba Bavuma Education Qualification & Background

Bavuma was enrolled on the South African College Junior School, from where he earned a cricket scholarship at age 10. His family then moved to Johannesburg, where he was admitted into Fourways High School and subsequently into St David’s Marist Inanda, from where he completed his matriculation. For his college degree, he was enrolled on the University of Cape Town. His early cricketing aspirations took off when he played at his local school level and in informal street cricket. He was selected for the Gauteng provincial teams, where he captained teams. He was initially coached by Lawrence Mahatlane at Gauteng and later by Geoffrey Toyana via Soweto Cricket Club. He was also the first black African from Gauteng to be selected for the South Africans School XI.

Temba Bavuma Relationships, Wedding & More

On 25 August, 2008, Bavuma got married to Phila Lobi at The Conservatory in Franschhoek, Western Cape. Phila is a real estate graduate who is known for establishing Lobi Properties in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The couple first started dating back in 2014, away from the public eye. They kept their relationship mostly private, right up until the marriage, which was also a private ceremony. They still value their privacy as they are largely away from the public eye. The couple welcomed their first child, Lihle Bavuma, in October 2023.

Temba Bavuma Religion & Beliefs

Bavuma is a Xhosa, the second largest ethnic group after Zulus in South Africa. As discussed earlier, his father was a devout Christian, and he instilled those values into Temba from an early age. He is also proud of his South African roots and has spoken publicly about the country’s rich history and culture, emphasising unity and shared identity. His morality, ethics and faith were deeply instilled into him from a young age.

Temba Bavuma Cricket Career Overview

Domestic & Franchise Journey

In 2008, Bavuma made his first-class debut for Gauteng against Eastern Province in the 2008-09 season. He joined the Lions franchise in the 2010/11 season, where he scored an impressive 242 runs in 4 matches with an average of 60.50 runs. This also included a 124* against the Knights. He quickly made his mark and earned a fixed spot as a middle-order, thanks to his consistent run-scoring performances and strong averages across seasons.

His performances earned him a spot for Guateng in the 2015 Africa T20 Cup. He moved to Cape Cobras for the 2017/18 season but rejoined Lions the next season. He was made the captain of the Lions across all formats in 2018. He was again named in the squad for the 2018 Africa T20 Cup for Guateng. When the Mzansi Super League took off in 2018, he was named in the Durban Heat’s squad, but he then joined the Jozi Stars in the very next season. For his SA20 League debut, he played for Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

International Debut & Leadership

Bavuma made his international Test debut against the West Indies on December 26, 2014 at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. In the 2015/16 series against England, he had his breakthrough Test moment when he scored a century and became the first South African black cricketer to do so in Test cricket.

His ODI debut was just as bombastic against Ireland on 25 December 2016 at Benoni. He scored 113, becoming only the second South African in history to score a debut ODI century. On 18 December 2019, he made his T20I debut against India at Mohali.,

Bavuma was named the captain of his ODI and Test international side, replacing Quinton De Kock on March 4, 2021, ahead of the home series against Pakistan, which he won. He became the first-ever black African player to be appointed as a permanent captain for South Africa. After Dean Elgar stepped down as captain in 2023, Bavuma was named the Test captain as well in March 2023.

Temba Bavuma Injuries & Fitness

During the Boxing Day Test on December 26, 2023, against India, he injured his hamstring and had to leave the pitch during the match. This wasn’t a one-off occurrence, however, as he also had a niggling hamstring issue previously as well. During the 2023 ICC World Cup, he again had issues with his hamstring.

This wasn’t the end of all his woes. He had suffered from a left elbow fracture in 2022. During the ODI series against Ireland in October 2024, he had a soft tissue elbow injury, and he was out for a while. He also had a hamstring issue during the World Test Championship in 2025, but he played through the pain. He always made it back strong, but he isn’t the most resilient player when it comes to staying fit consistently. He underwent physiotherapy and got extended support from Cricket South Africa, which helped him during his rehabilitation. He also played through the pain, which shows his dedication towards his nation and his desire to perform at the highest level.

Temba Bavuma Awards, Honors & Milestones

Temba Bavuma Passions & Off-Field Interests

Bavuma, outside cricket, also enjoys golfing. He enjoys playing golf and also plays it as a way to relax. He was also spotted watching football, during a UCL match between Arsenal and PSG. Other than sports, he also enjoys relaxing music, and he was also seen supporting DJ Black Coffee in Johannesburg. He also enjoys spending time with his family and travelling with them as well. He prefers keeping his personal life private and does not want unwanted media or public attention. He is also quite modest and lives a rather humble life outside cricket.

Bavuma is well-known for his philanthropy. He established the Temba Bavuma Foundation in 2016 which focuses on scholarships, mentoring, cricket clinics, facility upgrades, and community support in disadvantaged areas. In Guateng townships, his foundation has run cricket clinics, sponsored students and also helped reconstruct cricket pitches. During the COVID-19 disaster, his foundation also donated food and medical supplies. He is also well known for helping serve youth and underprivileged children and communities, and also extends his support as a mentor to young aspiring cricketers.

Temba Bavuma Social Media & Public Image

Bavuma’s Instagram handle is @tembabavuma

He currently has 285K followers.

Some of his viral Instagram posts include -

1. In November 2023, he posted a photo posing in a Kaizer Chiefs jersey, which quickly went viral.
2. He posted a photo of himself jumping in a celebratory manner during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 after winning against Pakistan. The photo went viral among fans.
3. Before the Cricket World Cup 2023, he posted a photo of what appeared to be him sleeping at the Captain’s Day. The post quickly turned into memes among fans.