Theo Baloyi
Theo Baloyi is a South African entrepreneur, and the founder and chief executive officer of Bathu Shoes. He launched his eponymous shoe brand in 2015, having previously served as a Senior Associate at PwC in Dubai. He was featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2019.
Also recorded as Mr Baloyi · Bathu CEO
Theo Baloyi
- Name
- Theo Baloyi
- Birthplace
- Hammanskraal, Gauteng
- Education
- University of South Africa
- Occupation
- * Entrepreneur
- Known for
- Founding Bathu Shoes.
- Awards
- * Forbes Africa 30 under 30 (2019)
- Born
- 1989 · Hammanskraal.
- Nationality
- South Africa
- Honours
- Forbes 30 Under 30
- Languages
- English · Zulu
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Theo Baloyi is a South African entrepreneur, and the founder and chief executive officer of Bathu Shoes. He launched his eponymous shoe brand in 2015, having previously served as a Senior Associate at PwC in Dubai. He was featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2019.
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Note VALÉORINE
Theo Baloyi (born 1989) is a businessperson, entrepreneur and fashion designer, of South African nationality. The businessperson was born in Hammanskraal.
Theo Baloyi was educated at University of South Africa. The businessperson worked for Bathu and PricewaterhouseCoopers and held the positions of chief executive officer and director, among others.
Languages used include English and Zulu. Honours include Forbes 30 Under 30.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q111326676 · wikipedia · Theo Baloyi
In this article
Biography
Biography
In 2021, he won GQ's Business Leader of the Year.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Theo Baloyi • Birth Name — Theo Baloyi • Birthplace — Hammanskraal, Gauteng • Citizenship — South Africa • Education — University of South Africa • Occupation — * Entrepreneur • shoe designer • Businessperson • Years Active — 2013–present • Known for — Founding Bathu Shoes. • Title — Founder and CEO of Bathu Shoes Founder and CEO Avenue Exchange • Awards — * Forbes Africa 30 under 30 (2019) • GQ Business Leader of the Year (2021)
Early life
Early life
Baloyi was born and raised in Hammanskraal, Gauteng, where he also spent his childhood. His father, Solly Baloyi, quit his nursing job to become a real estate agent and died in 2014. His mother is Tshidi Baloyi and he has a sister called Goitsimang Baloyi. Baloyi's childhood education was at Shalom Primary School, followed by high school. In 2009, Baloyi relocated to Johannesburg and studied BCom Accounting at the University of South Africa.
Career
Career
Before leaving the University of South Africa, Baloyi began his entrepreneurship journey by selling perfumes door-to-door. Baloyi was then selected to work for PwC South Africa under their graduate program, his performance prompting the company to hire him on a full-time basis, and he was transferred to PwC Middle East in Dubai. In 2015 Baloyi founded Bathu, a shoe company. The company owns and operates over 30 stores across South Africa and the SADC region. He was appointed a board member of South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) in July 2022.
Personal life
Personal life
Baloyi lives in Eye of Africa, Johannesburg.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1989
Theo Baloyi was born in 1989 at Hammanskraal.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Theo Baloyi”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q111326676: Theo Baloyi
General reference · Wikidata
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.5 minutes with Bathu founder, Theo Baloyi. SowetanLIVE.
- 2.Q&A Sessions: 'I am a product of opportunities' — Theo Baloyi. The Mail & Guardian. 2021-12-11.
- 3.Theo Baloyi on Twitter: I worked at PwC for 5 years. Twitter.
- 4.#30Under30: Business Category 2019. Forbes Africa. 2019-07-01.
- 5.Staff Reporter. Forbes Africa announces 30 Under 30 list for 2019. www.iol.co.za.
- 6.Everything you need to know about the 2021 GQ Men of The Year Awards Winners. www.gq.co.za.
- 7.Entrepreneur Theo Baloyi Wins GQ Business Leader Of The Year Award At The Men Of The Year Awards 2021. StartUp Magazine South Africa. 2021-11-29.
- 8.Tau, Poloko. Bathu's footprint among Africa's top 10 most admired brands. Citypress.
- 9.Ngwadla, Nkosazana. Entrepreneur Theo Baloyi on making over R18m selling sneakers. Drum.
- 10.Put your best foot forward with Bathu. SowetanLIVE.
- 11.ADVERTORIAL. Celebrating the Success that is the GOMORA founded Sneaker, iBathu. News24.
- 12.ENTREPRENEUR: Theo Baloyi, founder of Bathu Shoes. BusinessLIVE.
- 13.Walking His Journey. 1 Apr 2021.
- 14.Stores. Bathu.
- 15.Buthelezi, Londiwe. 30 stores without funding: How Bathu Shoes soared and opened 24 branches during a pandemic. Fin24.
- 16.Staff Writer. Bathu CEO, Theo Baloyi, appointed board member of SACSC - Azhizhi. Azhizhi. 2022-07-16.
- 17.Bathu's founder Theo Baloyi's privilege hour with Kgalema Motlanthe!. Mgosi. 2020-03-16.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
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General reference
Further particulars
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He was employed by PricewaterhouseCoopers and Bathu. Recorded positions include director, chief executive officer and senior associate. Recorded as entrepreneur, businessperson and fashion designer.
Career and activity
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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