Vuyani Bungu was born on 26 February 1967 in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, South Africa. He attended the local primary and high school before dropping out at grade nine to follow his passionate sport, boxing.
During his amateur career Bungu won 108 fights and suffered 20 losses. He turned professional on 26 April 1987 with fourth round knockout over Xolela Makhuluma. Fransie Badenhorst inflicted the first defeat on Bungu on 28 August 1989, two years after turning professional. However, Bungu managed to avenge his defeat in May 1990 to capture the South African title and went on to defend it successfully five times. On 20 August 1994, after only 12 rounds, Bungu won the International Featherweight championship when he defeated Kennedy McKinney, of the United States of America, at the Carousel, Hammanskraal. Bungu also defeated Mckinney in a title fight re-match in April 1997. Bungu went on to defend his IBF title thirteen times before losing it to Nassem Hamed for the World Boxing Organisation championship belt.
On 11 March 2000, Hamed knocked-out Bungu on the fourth round to retain his WBO belt. It was Bungu’s first defeat in the eight years since turning professional and he decided to retire after the fight. In 2003 after three years and four months Bungu returned to the ring to face Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. He lost the fight. In his professional career Bungu has won 39 fights with 18 knockouts and suffered 4 defeats.
Bungu is married with two kids age and stays in Mdantsane.