Yanela Mbuthuma

Yanela Mbuthuma (born 23 February 2002) is a South African soccer player who plays as a forward for Richards Bay in the Premier Soccer League.

Mbuthuma joined Richards Bay from Thohoyandou in the summer of 2022. He was discovered by Richards Bay at the Khabba Cup, where he was designated "player of the tournament". He subsequently made his first-tier debut in the 2022-23 South African Premier Division. His first goal was the winning goal against Sekhukhune United in August 2022.

After the season, the Sunday Times eyed him as one of the players who should move to an overseas club to develop further. Mbuthuma was named in the preliminary South Africa squad for the 2023 COSAFA Cup. He also played for South Africa U23 the same year, during the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.