We have prepared context and insights about this week’s leading news. The stories are:
- South Africa introduces a new tax for social media influencers
- Walmart to set up shop in South Africa
- Bolt is #1 on the App Store, but drivers aren’t riding along
South Africa introduces a new tax for social media influencers
South Africa’s influencers are about to find out that while likes don’t pay the bills, they can add to your tax bill.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has ruled that all influencer income, including cash, affiliate links, sponsored posts, free trips, and even gifted products, counts as taxable earnings. In short: if you got paid in money, merch, or “exposure,” it needs to be declared. (Wahala loading)
SARS insists it is not here to mess with anyone’s content strategy, just to treat creators like every other self-employed worker. To soften the blow, the taxman is rolling out webinars, guides, and outreach programs to help influencers figure out what qualifies as income (spoiler: pretty much everything).
Zoom in: For creators, this means the perks of turning clout into cash now comes with the same obligations as any other business. They’ll be taxed as independent contractors or sole proprietors under South Africa’s income-tax bands, and depending on earnings, some may even land in the provisional taxpayer bucket.
Click to signupThe move is part of a broader push by SARS to keep pace with modern work. Alongside influencers, gig economy workers, and other freelancers have also been added to the agency’s segmentation model—a framework designed to close loopholes and make sure emerging industries aren’t overlooked.
As the influencer economy keeps growing, SARS is stepping right into the spotlight ring light to make sure it gets its cut.
Walmart to set up shop in South Africa
The mat is out in South Africa, and Walmart is stepping on it. After 15 years of working behind Massmart’s curtains, the US retail giant is finally bringing its own banner to the country before the year’s end, promising “everyday low prices” on groceries, household goods, and tech gadgets.
Walmart first entered South Africa in 2010 through a stake in Massmart and later took full control. Until now, it has kept its name off the storefronts, relying on Makro and Builders to represent the brand.
Walmart International boss Kath McLay says the new stores won’t just be a copy-paste of the US model. Shelves will feature locally sourced products too, with partnerships lined up for South African suppliers and entrepreneurs.
The launch comes at a time when households are under strain from rising inflation and a weak rand. Walmart is betting that its mantra of “everyday low prices” will resonate with consumers who are struggling to stretch their budgets.
Context: Competition won’t be light. Amazon and Temu have already entered the e-commerce fray, while local retail heavyweights Shoprite and Pick’n Pay aren’t about to let the new kid swipe their market share without a fight. Still, Walmart’s mix of global scale and local partnerships is expected to make it a formidable opponent.
Details on store locations, recruitment, and community projects will be announced in October. What is clear for now is that Walmart is no longer staying in the background. It is laying down its mat. Good luck to everyone involved.
Bolt is #1 on the App Store, but drivers aren’t riding along
Bolt is topping Nigeria’s ride-hailing charts, having been crowned the most downloaded travel and mobility app in the country. But while downloads are flying, the drivers aren’t exactly in a celebratory mood.
Fresh numbers from analytics firm Sensor Tower put Bolt ahead of rivals as the most downloaded mobility app in Nigeria, one of 23 countries where it holds the crown. It’s a big flex for a company that first entered Lagos in 2016 as Taxify and now has a footprint in 33 cities across the country.
Bolt has been on a product sprint, too. Last month, it rolled out a family profile feature that lets one account cover rides for up to nine people. It also introduced a dashcam service that turns drivers’ phones into dual-facing cameras with cloud backups, pitching it as a boost for safety and accountability.
But while the confetti is falling, not everyone’s celebrating. The Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) says the company is parading numbers while drivers wrestle with rising costs and low earnings. “More installs don’t put food on the table,” the union said in a statement.
Zoom out: Beyond ride-hailing, Bolt is stacking its corporate side too. Bolt Business, which handles commutes and logistics for over 50,000 companies in 50+ markets, has appointed Tanzanian executive Milu Kipimo as its South Africa Country Manager.
So, Bolt may be riding high on the charts, but whether it can keep drivers and regulators on board is another ride altogether.
By the Numbers
$31.2M
Nigeria’s creator economy is now valued at $31.2 million, according to the inaugural Nigerian Creator Economy Report 2025.
