South African media personality Lasizwe Dambuza . Picture: X/@PopPulseSA
For YouTubers and influencers, it’s all about the numbers — and South African media personality Lasizwe Dambuza just hit a big milestone.
Dambuza recently celebrated 1 million subscribers on his YouTube channel.
Dambuza’s journey began in 2017 when he introduced us to his hilarious skits and Nomatriquency alter ego.
But it was his hit dating show, “Awkward Dates”, that took his channel to new heights. Launched in August 2023, this cheeky YouTube series has become a firm favourite with viewers.
“Awkward Dates” is exactly what the title suggests — a comedic journey into blind dates with some of South Africa’s biggest names.
From musician Vusi Nova to beauty influencer Mihlali Ndamase, actress Ntando Duma and even EFF president Julius Malema, the show delivers endless laughs and second-hand embarrassment.
Produced by Dambuza’s TD Media, the series has become a fan magnet, catapulting his subscriber count into the millions.
In a live YouTube and Instagram session to mark the milestone, Dambuza’s gratitude was heartfelt.
“Guys, we did it! Thank you to everybody! Thank you to every single one of you who has watched Awkward Dates, subscribed, and I’m truly grateful,” he said. “You guys could’ve subscribed somewhere else, but you chose to subscribe and believe in a young Black man’s dreams,” he said.
The show’s quirky moments keep fans coming back for more. One of the standout episodes featured Julius Malema, whose deadpan responses and sharp humour added a layer of hilarity.
The highlight? When Dambuza , in an attempt to impress, called Malema “murandziwa waka” (“my love” in Venda). Malema, in classic Juju style, corrected him with a laugh and quipped that “Pedi is sexually transmitted” — cueing the audience rolling on the floor laughing.
Beyond the laughs, Dambuza’s channel has become a beacon of representation and creativity. He has shown that with a mix of humour, hard work and a sprinkle of sass, South Africans can dominate the digital space.