David Phume is a South African tech entrepreneur, animator, roboticist, and businessman widely recognized as the country’s first black animator. He gained public attention as the founder of multiple technology companies, including Afrobotics, Penthouse Motion Pictures, Cake Media, and Blackchain. The media and tech entrepreneur is also known for his relationship with famous South African media personality Bonang Matheba.
David Phume Biography
| Field | Details |
| Full name | David Phume |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 1982 |
| Age | 43 years old (as of January 2026) |
| Place of birth | Rockville, Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Current residence | Bryanston, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Zodiac sign | Not available |
| Religion | Christian |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | Not available |
| Weight | Not available |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Marital status | In a relationship |
| Girlfriend | Bonang Matheba |
| Children | At least one son |
| Father | Dr. Victor Tuwani Phume |
| Mother | Not available |
| Siblings | Not publicly disclosed |
| Alma mater | Boston Media House (Johannesburg), Animation Mentor (San Francisco) |
| Profession | Tech entrepreneur, animator, roboticist, businessman |
| Net worth | Estimated between $2 million – $5 million |
Who is David Phume?
David Phume is a South African media and technology entrepreneur who has made his mark in animation, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Born in Rockville, Soweto, in 1982, David is 43 years old as of January 2026.
He carved his name in history as South Africa’s first black animator and later expanded his influence into the African technology space.
The entrepreneur currently resides in Bryanston, Johannesburg, where he continues to build his portfolio of technology companies.
His father, Dr. Victor Tuwani Phume, is an accomplished theologian with an honorary degree in divinity, a reverend, author, and businessman who has fostered religion into mainstream entertainment.
How old is David Phume? Age and birthday
David Phume is 43 years old as of January 2026. He was born in 1982 in Rockville, Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa.
The specific date of his birth has not been publicly disclosed, making it difficult to determine his exact zodiac sign.
David Phume’s early life and education
David grew up in Rockville, Soweto, during the transformative year of 1994 when South Africa was experiencing democratic change. As a 12-year-old boy, he dreamt of a future beyond his township environment.
His entrepreneurial journey began when his father bought him animation software that sparked his interest in the creative and technological world.
After completing his high school education, David studied 3D animation at Boston Media House in Johannesburg.
He then graduated from Animation Mentor, a San Francisco-based animation school, where his teachers included professionals from international studios such as Pixar, Reel FX, and Sony Pictures Imageworks. This education laid the foundation for his groundbreaking career in animation and technology.
Career: From animation pioneer to tech innovator
Early animation career
David started his professional journey in animation after completing his studies. He landed his first job at Red Pepper Productions as a 3D animator.
During most industry events and local animation communities, he was often the only black person in the room. This unique position led to him accepting the title of South Africa’s first black animator.
Penthouse Motion Pictures
In 2005, at the age of 23, David founded Penthouse Motion Pictures, a broadcast design and animation studio.
The company went on to win numerous creative accolades, including 15 Promax Awards, and participated in the prestigious Cannes Lions festival.
Penthouse became a central player in the South African media space, producing high-quality broadcast design and animation content for major television networks and brands.
Silicon Valley experience and AI discovery
In 2011, David completed a mentorship programme at Animation Mentor in San Francisco, where he studied character animation.
During his time in Silicon Valley, he discovered his passion for artificial intelligence and robotics. This exposure to cutting-edge technology circles ignited his interest in developing Africa’s tech industry.
Blackchain and Cake Media
David co-founded Blackchain, a technology company built on four pillars: inspire, identify talent, nurture skills, and innovate. The company identifies problems in Africa and creates technology-driven solutions.
He also founded Cake Media, a company that specializes in long-form content production. In July 2024, Cake Media co-produced Bonang Matheba’s reality show “B’Dazzled” on S3.
Afrobotics: Vision for African tech independence
In 2020, David founded Afrobotics, a wholly black-owned South African technology company dedicated to making the African continent technologically independent.
The company focuses on two main pillars: commercial contracts and Research and Development.
Afrobotics partners with institutions such as MICT SETA and various universities to build a country-wide network of R&D labs covering robotics, aerospace engineering, nuclear power generation, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence.
The company aims to reduce Africa’s reliance on other countries and re-establish the continent as a global tech contender.
What is David Phume’s net worth?
As of January 2026, David Phume’s net worth is estimated to be between $2 million and $5 million. He has built his wealth through multiple successful ventures in the media and technology sectors. His income sources include:
Penthouse Motion Pictures: His award-winning animation and broadcast design studio that has won 15 Promax Awards and worked with major South African broadcasters.
Afrobotics: His robotics and AI company that secures commercial contracts while investing in research and development across Africa.
Cake Media: His content production company that creates long-form content for television and digital platforms.
Blackchain: His technology platform that develops innovative solutions for African challenges.
The tech entrepreneur earns revenue from commercial contracts, television production deals, technology consulting, and innovation lab services.
His partnership deals with educational institutions and corporations across Africa contribute to his growing fortune.
Is David Phume married? Wife, Girlfriend Bonang Matheba and relationship status
David Phume is not married but is in a long-term relationship with famous South African media personality Bonang Matheba.
The couple reportedly started dating in 2023, with Bonang describing him as her “soulmate” after six years of being single following her relationship with late rapper AKA.
Relationship timeline with Bonang Matheba
David and Bonang kept their relationship private for the first year. By late 2023, rumors began circulating about their romance. The relationship became public in early 2024 when they were spotted together at various events.
Bonang confirmed the relationship publicly, calling David her soulmate and expressing happiness about finding love again.
In June 2025, breakup rumors surfaced when fans noticed the couple had unfollowed each other on Instagram and David was absent from Bonang’s 38th birthday celebrations. Speculation intensified about their relationship status.
The couple debunked the breakup rumors in August 2025 when they attended David’s father’s 70th birthday celebration together. Photos from the family event showed them happy and together, confirming their relationship was still going strong.
They welcomed 2025 together with romantic celebrations and have continued to show their commitment to each other.
As of January 2026, David and Bonang remain in a relationship, navigating their romance while balancing their demanding careers in media and technology.
Does David Phume have children?
David Phume has at least one son from a previous relationship. In November 2025, social media posts identified the child as Bonang Matheba’s stepson, confirming that David was a father before entering his current relationship.
Details about his child’s age, name, and mother have been kept private as David maintains discretion about his family life outside of his relationship with Bonang.
David Phume’s father and family background
David’s father is Dr. Victor Tuwani Phume, an accomplished theologian with an honorary degree in divinity. Dr. Phume is a reverend, author of seventeen publications, and businessman who has utilized his entrepreneurial skills to pioneer business models that foster religion into mainstream entertainment.
In August 2025, David and his girlfriend Bonang Matheba attended Dr. Victor Phume’s 70th birthday celebration, marking a significant milestone for the family.
The event was held with close family and friends, and the photos from the celebration circulated on social media, giving the public a rare glimpse into David’s family life.
David’s family values and his father’s entrepreneurial spirit clearly influenced his own business acumen and drive to succeed across multiple industries.
Social media presence
As of January 2026, David Phume maintains a private Instagram account under the handle @davidphume with approximately 22,800 followers.
He is described in his bio as “Multi-award winning | Media & Tech Entrepreneur.” Because his account is private, only approved followers can view his posts, photos, and videos.
David uses his social media platform sparingly and maintains a low profile compared to his celebrity girlfriend.
He occasionally shares content related to his technology ventures, family moments, and professional achievements.
His limited social media presence reflects his focus on building his business empire rather than cultivating an online celebrity persona.
Fast facts about David Phume
- David Phume is recognized as South Africa’s first black animator, breaking barriers in the animation industry in the early 2000s.
- At age 23, he founded Penthouse Motion Pictures, which went on to win 15 Promax Awards for broadcast design excellence.
- He spent time in Silicon Valley, where he trained under animation professionals from major studios like Pixar, Reel FX, and Sony Pictures Imageworks.
- David grew up in Rockville, Soweto, but now resides in the affluent Johannesburg suburb of Bryanston.
- He founded Afrobotics in 2020 with a mission to make Africa technologically independent through robotics, AI, and quantum computing research.
- David co-founded Blackchain, a technology company that aims to enroll more than 5,000 students from across Africa into robotics and AI programs.
- His company Cake Media co-produced Bonang Matheba’s reality show “B’Dazzled” in 2024, combining his professional and personal worlds.
- David’s father, Dr. Victor Tuwani Phume, is a respected theologian, reverend, author, and entrepreneur who influenced his son’s business mindset.
- He has traveled to India to work with robotics and AI experts as part of his research into developing African technology solutions.
- David is passionate about Afrofuturism and has created art pieces that combine technology, science fiction, and African art to inspire young Africans.
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Wrapping up
David Phume is a South African tech entrepreneur and animator who has broken barriers as the country’s first black animator and now leads multiple technology companies focused on African independence in tech.
At 43 years old, he continues to build Afrobotics, Penthouse Motion Pictures, Cake Media, and Blackchain while in a relationship with media personality Bonang Matheba.
His estimated net worth of $2 million to $5 million reflects his success across animation, media production, robotics, and artificial intelligence ventures.
David’s vision for Africa’s technological sovereignty positions him as a leading voice in the continent’s innovation landscape.
References
- Forbes Africa. “Guiding Africa Towards Technological Sovereignty”.
- News24. “From starting an animation studio to launching a tech company: Meet SA’s first black animator”.
- BizCommunity. “#StartupStory: David Phume, an African technologist on a mission”.
- Forbes Africa. “Viva Virtual Mandela!”.
- Africa Outlook Magazine. “Afrobotics: A Legacy of Vision”.
- The Herald. “Bonang Matheba confirms love with David Phume”.
- MSN. “Bonang Matheba debunks David Phume breakup rumours with cryptic post”.
- The South African. “David Phume: Who is Bonang’s rumoured boyfriend?”.
Disclaimer: The information on Star Vistiq is collected from trusted public sources. We strive for accuracy but cannot guarantee completeness of celebrity profiles, net worth estimates, or biographical data. Readers should verify information independently. For corrections or inquiries, contact: info@starvistiq.com
