Lasizwe weighs in on SARS influencer levy
YouTuber Lasizwe Dambuza has weighed in on the hot debate around the South African Revenue Service’s (SARS) decision to tax influencers.
After initially sparking criticism for appearing to oppose the move, he has since clarified his stance, stressing that his concern is about fairness and understanding how the industry operates.
Taking to X this week, Lasizwe emphasized that he has always been tax compliant despite the backlash he received.
“I want to be clear, I do pay tax. Mina I’ve always contributed and I believe in building this country,” he wrote.
The entertainer explained that the content creation space doesn’t follow the same structure as traditional jobs, pointing out that collaborations and payments often blur the lines between work and personal benefit.
“This industry isn’t traditional. There are blurred lines between paid work, gifting, trade exchanges, and delayed payments, like some creators still wait months to be paid. Taxing influencers without understanding how we work risks punishing survival, not regulating success,” he explained.
While acknowledging that influencers sometimes enjoy perks like cars through campaigns, Lasizwe argued that the glamorous side often overshadows the challenges creators face behind the scenes.
He went on to say that instead of shaming influencers, SARS should consider engaging them directly.
“We need structure, education, and open dialogue, not shame or confusion. I’d genuinely welcome a workshop or sit down with abo SARS to discuss how creators can contribute in a way that’s fair, informed, and future proof.”
I want to be clear, I do pay tax. Mina I’ve always contributed and I believe in building this country.
But this industry isn’t traditional. There are blurred lines between paid work, gifting, trade exchanges, and delayed payments, like some creators still wait months to be paid.…
