Top 20 South African Social Media Influencers

John Israel A14 May 2021

Social media is power. It’s 2021 and people are already leveraging on this power to create the life they have always wanted. Apparently the higher your following on social media, the higher your prospects of influencing your followers and the higher your chances of getting endorsements from brands.

A social media user is said to be an influencer when he has a minimum 1000 followers on any social media platform – Twitter, Facebook, Tik Tok, YouTube, Snapchat – you name it.

Like every other country out there, South Africa teems with celebs and influencers. But, as you probably already know, there are influencers and there are influencers. They do not all have the same power. In this article, we’re bringing you the top 20 South African social media influencers.

Over time, of course, some influencers might lose their ranking: some might fly up the ranks while others might fall down it.

1. Boitumelo Thulo

Known professionally as Boity, this South African rapper and model sits at the top of the list.

Boity broke into the music scene with a rap tune titled “Wuz Dat.” Sounds likes “What’s that?” – as of someone asking a question. Well, no one is asking questions about her rap gift right now. The songstress has grown in the consciousness of the music loving public since her hip hop debut.

Her impact transcends music, though. She’s also an entrepreneur with interests in perfumes. In fact, she has a perfume brand named for her: Boity Sapphire.

Fun Fact: Boity had once dated the bod who appeared next on the list: Cassper Nyovest.

Followers:

Instagram – 4.8 million

Twitter – 3.3 million

YouTube – 32.9k

Facebook –

Tik Tok – 101.7

Snapchat –

2. Cassper Nyovest

Refiloe Maele Phoolo is the birth name of the South African rapper and record producer long famous by the stage name Cassper Nyovest. A hip hop champ, the songster has also displayed proficiency in other genres, notably amapiano.

He’s released a couple of amapiano tunes, but his most recent appears to be the buzz of the moment. “Angisho Guys” had been stolen and released by another DJ before but the stolen song did not make as much impact as that by the real owner – Cassper.

On a list of 5, Cassper might be counted among the musos who have made remarkable impact in South African music. He’s the only South African rapper with a record of filling stadiums back to back. #FillUp[name of stadium] is one event many across South Africa now look up to.

In 2020, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, there was no #FillUp campaign. But the idea of #FillUp has not been buried. The coronavirus pandemic is still biting pretty hard so Cass is biding his time.

Cassper Nyovest released “Any Minute Now,” a dedicatory album to his son, last year. Right now, he’s focused on releasing an amapiano album, which he says will stand out from anything out there. “Angisho Guys” is the prelude to that.

Followers:

Instagram – 4.5 million

Twitter – 3.2 million

YouTube – 158k

Facebook –

Tik Tok – 570.7k

Snapchat

3. Bonang Matheba

The first lady on our list who isn’t a musician. Bonang Matheba – called Queen B by her core fans and simply Bonang by others – is a businesswoman and model who happens to have dated a musician in the past (AKA, also called Kiernan Jarryd Forbes).

Bonang is her own woman, though, with far greater Instragram following and engagement than the man she once dated. She runs the House of BNG.

Followers:

Instagram – 4.3 million

Twitter – 4.7 million

YouTube –

Facebook –

Tik Tok – 8723

Snapchat –

4. Minnie Dlamini-Jones

Minnie Dlamini-Jones is one of the most loved Mzansi celebs out there. She combines the offices of a television presenter and actress beautifully.

Followers:

Instagram – 4.2 million

Twitter – 4.1 million

YouTube –

Facebook –

Tik Tok –

Snapchat –

5. Natasha Thahane

Natasha Thahane is an actress and model and good in both offices. The much-loved thespian, who studied at the New York Film Academy, stands out for her roles in, among others, Isono and Blood and Water. Years back, rumours of her dating A-Reece hit the blogosphere, but she denied them all

Followers:

Instagram – 4.2 million

Twitter – 2.2 million

YouTube –

Facebook –

Tik Tok – 34k

Snapchat –

6. Pearl Thusi

The model and business woman Pearl is one influencer many look up to. Known for her outspokenness, the entrepreneur readily stands with her friends in matters that many would rather dodge. She’s called Mama Panther by some of her fans, but the “panther” part of her name should not instill fear in you. She’s one of the sexiest and most lovable celebs out there. We stan!

Followers:

Instagram – 3.9 million

Twitter – 3.2 million

YouTube –

Facebook –

Tik Tok – 292.5k

Snapchat –

7. Somizi

Somizi Mhlongo is a singer and one of the judges of the reality television show Idols South Africa.Somizi is gay and bold to be. He’s given courage to others of similar sexuality to come out an embrace their difference. The humorous bod once date Mohale Motaung.

Followers:

Instagram – 4 million

Twitter – 2.7

YouTube –

Facebook –

Tik Tok –

Snapchat –

8. Amanda du-Pont

Amanda du-Pont is a Swazi-born South African television host, model and actress known for her roles as Sharon in SABC’s comedy Taryn and Sharon and as Senna in the series Life is Wild.

Followers:

Instagram – 3.8

Twitter – 2.1 million

YouTube –

Facebook –

Tik Tok – 623.9k

Snapchat –

9. Nomzamo Mbatha

Nomzamo Mbatha is another South African actresses with a great presence on social media, especially Instagram , where she has a following of over 3 million.

She’s acted in several flicks, but her most memorable, according to her, is in the comedy Coming to America, in which she played the role of Mirembe, one of the royal groomers in the Zamunda palace.

Followers:

Instagram – 3.8 million

Twitter – 2.3 million

YouTube –

Facebook –

Tik Tok – 10.5k

Snapchat –

10. Nasty C

Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo, the rapper long famous by his stage name Nasty C, is another top influencer in Mzansi with a robust social media following – over 3 million on Instagram.

Called the “Zulu Man With Some Power,” the songster has actually earned his stripes and is justly recognized as one of the top influencers not just in South Africa but Africa as a whole.

Followers:

Instagram – 3.3

Twitter – 1.9 million

Facebook –

Tik Tok –

YouTube- 684k

Snapchat

11. Pearl Modiadie

Pearl Modia die is a disc jockey, actress and television presenter and apparently good in all offices. She especially stands out as the presenter of Zaziwa on SABC 1.

Followers:

Instagram – 3.1 million

Twitter – 171k

Facebook –

Tik Tok –

YouTube

Snapchat

12. Black Coffee

Easily the most decorated international disc jockey of South African provenance, Black Coffee is a global DJ with a network that covers top figures in global pop, from Jay-Z to Drake. To the songster, “Music Is King.”

Followers:

Instagram – 3 million

Twitter – 3.8

YouTube – 110k

Facebook –

Tik Tok –

Snapchat –

13. AKA

Kiernan Jarry Forbes, also known as AKA, is another influential figure in South African entertainment. The “Fela in Versace” rapper, who released a projected called “Bhovamania” last year. He’s earned his stripes.

Followers:

Instagram – 2.9

Twitter – 4.9 million

YouTube – 178k

Facebook –

Tik Tok –

Snapchat –

14. Thando Thebethe

Thando is an influencer with an extravagant derriere, so an impressed public modified her name to incorporate her massive gift. So, Thando “Thabooty” Thabethe.

Followers:

Instagram – 1.8 million

Twitter – 1.8 million

YouTube –

Facebook –

Tik Tok – 451.3k

Snapchat –

15. Ntando Duma

Ntando Duma, also called Duma Ntando, is an actress and television personality and one with a deep love for her mother. Ntando Duma has a daughter who’s equally famous, a kid influencer, Sbahle Mzizi.

Followers:

Instagram – 3.2 million

Twitter – 900.8k

YouTube –

Facebook –

Tik Tok – 302.5k

Snapchat –

16. Nandi Madida

Naandi Madida is a songstress, television presenter and actress long famous for her role as Nala in Beyoncé’s flick Black Is King. For her role, she had received a personalized gift from the pop icon.

Followers:

Instagram – 2.8 million

Twitter – 1.4 million

YouTube –

Facebook –

Tik Tok – 172k

Snapchat –

17. Jessica Nkosi

Jessica Ayanda Nkosi has got an Instagram following of over 2.6 million. Not surprisingly, the television presenter and actress is a brand ambassador, for Volvo.

Followers:

Instagram – 2.7

Twitter – 1.5 million

YouTube –

Facebook –

Tik Tok – 88.3

Snapchat –

18. Khanyi Mbau

Khanyi Mbau is an actress and television host. Of recent, though, many have forgotten she occupies both offices thanks to the negative publicity surrounding her relationship with Kudzai Terrence Mushonga, a fugitive from the law.

Followers:

Instagram – 2.7

Twitter – 1.5 million

Facebook –

Tik Tok – 132k

YouTube

Snapchat

19. Lerato Kganyago

Lerato Kganyago is a DJ and media personality who announced in April that she’ll be taking a break from the office of a DJ. Of course, she remains her influential self, with a following of over 2.5 million on Instagram.

Followers:

Instagram – 2.5 million

Twitter –

Facebook –

Tik Tok – 147k

YouTube

Snapchat