In the bustling city of Johannesburg, fitness is a big deal, and at the heart of it are the top fitness influencers who are inspiring and motivating thousands to embrace healthier lifestyles. From rigorous workout routines to wholesome nutrition tips, these influencers are reshaping the way people in the city approach fitness. They are showing professionals in the economic hub of the continent that it is possible to be busy, successful, and fit.
In this article, we will introduce you to some of the most influential fitness enthusiasts in Johannesburg who are making waves on social media platforms and beyond.
Here are 12 of the Most Inspiring Fitness Influencers in Johannesburg
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Connie Ferguson
Constance Ferguson is a Motswana actress, filmmaker, producer, and businesswoman. She was affectionately known for her role as Karabo Moroka on South Africa’s most popular soap opera, Generations. After leaving the soapy, she started Ferguson films with her late husband Shona in 2010. Ferguson was on the cover of Forbes Woman Africa magazine in 2018.
She has not only made a name for herself on national TV screens but at the age of 53, she has never looked better. With her dance moves, skipping rope, and six-pack, she is a true inspiration and one of country’s top fitness influencers.
Grace Motswana
Grace ‘G-Fit’ Motswana is a fitness coach who gained her online popularity through tough but enjoyable workout videos and healthy eating tips for her followers. Motswana leads with training in wellness; she is a fitness freak who has attracted half a million Instagram followers as well as many others all over social media. She is a true fitness bunny who loves to show off her stunning body while motivating many others to tone theirs.
This member of the fitness influencers’ club shares inspiration every Tuesday and Thursday with morning #Rooftop sessions.
Nkateko Dinwiddy
Nkateko Dinwiddy, born on 1 October 1990 in Tembisa, is a dancer and Choreographer best known as Takkies. Takkies began dancing at the age of nine. And she now specialises in the Hip Hop, Flamenco, Contemporary, and Jazz dance categories. She has been in many dance competitions including the Shield Teens Dance Competition and So You Think You Can Dance (SYTUCD), where she was a top 12 finalist.
Takkies developed the dancing fitness craze she called Rockingnheels. She has danced herself into the hearts of South Africans by inviting ladies to join in on her sensual and addictive moves.
Gabriel Temudzani
Gabriel Temudzani is a South African actor and TV presenter. He is well known by South African audiences for his role of Chief Vhafuwi Azwindini since 2000, on the TV soap opera Muvhango aired on SABC 2. He also presents the magazine show La Familia, which also airs on SABC 2. Temudzani passion for acting began after one of his high school teachers enrolled him in drama classes.
Although the actor’s career and public profile have grown over the years, he is a very private man. But he has revealed that he loves to travel and be one of our fitness influencers. He uses the following words to describe himself: Motivational, Thespian, Outdoorsy, Fitness, Cycling, Hiking, and Traveler.
Zinhle Masango
Zinhle Masango is a fitness coach from Daveyton in Ekurhuleni. Her work ethic and amazing body have built her an impressive Instagram fanbase; she has over 135 thousand followers. On top of being a mother, certified coach, and having a full-time job in corporate, she completes two to three sessions of exercise a day. She enjoys weight training.
She maintains her physique by “eat[ing] a balanced diet containing my macronutrients, carbs, protein, and fats. I usually supplement a lot of my micronutrients with vitamins. I also make sure I drink lots of water to stay hydrated.”
A Guide to Cooking Delicious and Healthy Food.
Mapule Ndhlovu
Fitness trainer Mapule Ndhlovu says exercise has changed her life. She is famously known as QueenFitnass and believes that people should be looking at exercise as a confidence booster, as well as an investment in living longer and more productively. Ndhlovu says that Fitness was a career that chose her. She can be seen on her social media platforms moving her incredible figure to the latest hits, doing exercises that seem impossible to the rest of us, or showing us how to look as toned as her.
Mapule hails from Alexandra in Johannesburg, was crowned the first Women’s Health Next Fitness Star in 2016, and is one of our fitness influencers.
Libhongolethu Geza
Libho Geza is a 23-year-old Student athlete from King Williams town, who took part in and won the first season of Love Island SA. Geza is a Rugby Player for Pirates Rugby Club and a Fitness enthusiast. Apart from his love for fitness, he is known for his elegant fashion and entertaining social media content. He is an advocate for developing sports talent and upliftment in South Africa’s underserved townships and communities.
Geza is well groomed, and humble, and lives to encourage others to become better versions of themselves, which makes him the perfect candidate to be one of our fitness influencers.
Amanda Mbongwa
Amanda Mbongwa, known by her fans as Fitfanatic, has a phenomenal CV. She owns FitFanatic Active, an activewear and active lifestyle brand. She is the head of Ulwandla Developments and Loskop Gijima, an initiative that grooms young athletes to discover their talents. The programmes started as a running club and later grew into a cycling club for young people who were willing and able but could not afford the sport. She does a series of hiking expeditions in the Drakensberg to keep her community of Fanatics motivated and inspired to stay active and healthy.
She deserves her place in Johannesburg’s top fitness influencers list.
Zaakirah Khalek
Zaakira Khalek, fitness coach and the owner of Tribe Fitness Studio says fitness is her thing. She was born sporty, becoming a sprinter in high school. Afterward, she enrolled at a gym, and it was safe to say that the love of weight training became a huge passion of hers. When she became a Nike trainer in 2014 after a long and difficult process, she could not contain her excitement. But she never lost her love for running.
She has transformed her love for fitness into her career. And a platform from which she finds total fulfilment and she wants to infect everyone with the same pleasure. We are proud to have her as one of our fitness influencers.
Matthew Stone
Matthew Stone is a Puma South Africa brand ambassador and a founder of The Social Runners running movement in Sandton. Stone’s work in the fitness industry has earned him a major client base. He offers cardio, boxing, kickboxing, and resistance training workouts. His work has earned him an incredible reputation and a big celebrity following. Stars like Amanda Dupont, Boity Thulo, Kay Sibiya, Ayanda Thabethe, and Lerato Mvelase follow him on social media.
He was also one of the trainers for this year’s Women’s Health Fit Night Out. Stone is one of our fitness influencers because he gave the ladies an out-of-this-world fitness experience.
Buhle K. Maluleke
Buhle is a certified nutritionist specialising in Advanced Sports & Exercise Nutrition. She obtained her qualification from Edinburgh Napier University in 2017. She is also a Life Coach and Master Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) Practitioner, and she adds these skills into her coaching practice to create real lifestyle changes for her clients.
Her mission is to help people create healthy and sustainable lifestyles that work for them – exposing them to the world of nutrition and helpfully communicating educational information. She brings science to our fitness influencers list.
Banesa Molauoa Tseki
Banesa Molauoa Tseki, 34, founded and co-owns The Nest Space with Dr. Anesu Mbizvo, 31, the first black and female-run yoga and wellness centre in Johannesburg. They have created a space for people to heal and experience alternative modes of healing such as meditation, reiki, sound healing, moon ceremonies, and hypnotherapy. The Nest Space has a yoga studio, alternative healing therapy room, vegan café, and zero-waste grocery, and is as African as it gets as these concepts originated from our continent, Mbizvo explains.
Their biggest milestone was opening a yoga teacher training school during lockdown and they have since trained and certified over 40 yogis of colour in South Africa. They are our super fitness influencers.
Conclusion:
Johannesburg’s fitness scene is thriving, thanks to these top fitness influencers who are championing healthier lifestyles and motivating others to join the movement. Whether you’re into intense workouts, mindful yoga, marathon running, dance-inspired fitness, or nourishing your body through balanced nutrition, there’s a fitness influencer on this list who can guide and inspire you. Follow their journeys on social media and take a step closer to your own fitness goals with the guidance of these remarkable individuals.