South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, has made a passionate appeal to TikTok to expand its Creator Fund, advocating for fair financial support for South African content creators, Cape {town} Etc reports.
His remarks, delivered at the TikTok Safer Internet Summit in Cape Town, underscore the disproportionate treatment of local innovators who contribute significantly to a platform that has become a key player in shaping global youth culture.
“South Africans are shaping global culture on TikTok, sparking viral trends and influencing the world. Yet, they’re not being compensated for their contributions. This not only limits economic opportunity but sends a damaging message that African creativity has reached but lacks value,” Solly asserted.
The minister’s comments strike at the heart of a growing frustration among South African creators, who point to an imbalanced system that benefits creators from the US, Europe and parts of Asia while leaving their South African counterparts empty-handed.
Despite boasting over 17 million active users, South Africa’s vibrant TikTok community has found itself sidelined in the lucrative model of monetisation that the Creator Fund offers elsewhere.
Creators like Lasizwe Dambuza and Leagen Wayans, who regularly attract millions of views, are among those lamenting the lack of financial remuneration.
“They have noted that while their content generates significant revenue for TikTok, they garner none of the financial benefits offered to creators in other regions,” he stated.
The disparity arises from TikTok’s geographic eligibility restrictions; the Creator Fund currently pays creators based on metrics such as views and engagement, yet South African creators find themselves reliant on alternative income models, like brand deals and live-streaming gifts, to sustain their creative ventures.
As an advocate for the local industry, Solly has engaged directly with TikTok leadership, urging them to reconsider their exclusionary practices. The platform has acknowledged his feedback, and discussions around expanding the Creator Fund to South Africa are reportedly ongoing.
While Solly recognises the challenges posed by adapting payment infrastructure to different market dynamics, he is adamant that these technicalities should not serve as a barrier to economic progress for African nations.
Compiled by: Sibuliso Duba
First published by Cape {town}etc
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