Ayanda Bandla (born 29 June 1989) is a South African actress, media personality, and news producer. She is best known for playing Thandiswa in the e.tv telenovela Smoke & Mirrors.
Bandla has also starred as Gugulethu in Identity, Katlego Nqobile in Lavish, and Lakhe Amon in uBettina Wethu. She has also appeared in commercials for top brands like Dettol, Milo, Coca-Cola, and MTN South Africa.
| Ayanda Bandla | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal Details | |
| Name: | Ayanda Bandla-Ngubane |
| Born: | 29 June 1989 (age 36 years old) |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Education: | Political Science |
| Alma mater: | University of Pretoria |
| Occupation: | Actress, media personality, news producer |
| Spouse: | Mqondisi Ngubane |
Early Life
Ayanda Bandla was born on 29 June 1989. Growing up in Protea North, Soweto, she first discovered her passion for performance art through her participation in school and church choirs.
Education
Ayanda Bandla holds a degree in political science and specialises in international relations from the University of Pretoria.
Career
Bandla made her television debut in the field of News and Actuality after joining etv’s flagship breakfast show Sunrise. She worked as a sub-editor on the program but expanded to include writing, producing, field reporting, anchoring, and recording voice-overs for the show.
In 2011, she entered as a contestant on the SABC1 reality competition One Day Leader. She was later discovered by actor Leroy Gopal, who motivated her to join his acting workshops. After completing the workshops, she got an agent and landed her first acting gig in 2016.
Bandla has since appeared in many films and television productions. She has played roles in Generations: The Legacy, Broken Vows, It’s Complicated, The Player, A Zulu Christmas, and uBettina Wethu. She also portrayed Sergeant Peters in the 2025 film Cop & a Half.
Ayanda Bandla was named an official ambassador for Brand South Africa’s Play Your Part initiative in 2017. She has also appeared in television commercials for brands, including VW, Omo Novak, Dettol, Doom Exterminator, Milo, Lunch bar, Coca-Cola SA, MTN SA, and Chery Tiggo.
Personal Life
Ayanda Bandla is married to Mqondisi Ngubane, a director and photographer. The couple celebrated their white wedding in April 2024. They have worked together on several projects.
She speaks English, isiZulu, isiXhosa, seSotho, and seTswana.
TV Shows
- Etv Sunrise
- Generations: The Legacy
- Broken Vows
- It’s Complicated
- The Player
- A Zulu Christmas
- Dinaledi Heights
- uBettina Wethu
- Nqobile
- Identity
- Revelations
- Lavish
- McDonald’s
- Dimpho
- Black Tax
- Smoke and Mirrors
Filmography
- “Cop & a Half: Full Cast and Crew“. Imdb.
- Masego Seemela. “Ayanda Bandla recalls her journey leading to top role with ‘Smoke and Mirrors’“. Sowetan.
- Hopewelll Mpapu. “Smoke & Mirrors’ Ayanda Bandla on playing Thandiswa and challenges of unequal pay in the TV industry“. TrueLove.
- Lebo Tleane. “Ayanda Bandla Reveals the Cool Gift She Got From Her Husband On Their First Wedding Anniversary“. Youth Village.
- https://legends.co.za/actors/ayanda-bandla
- “Ayanda Bandla, ambassador for the future“. Brand South Africa.
