Top 15 South African influencers you need to follow in 2025
South African influencers have been making waves in the country's digital space with engaging content on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Unlike traditional celebrities, they connect with their audience in a relatable way.
Source: Instagram
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- The top South African influencers in 2025
- 15. Mihlali Ndamase – 4.45%
- 14. Crystal Greeff-Katsini – 4.8%
- 13. William Last KRM – 5.31%
- 12. Princess Sachiko – 5.39%
- 11. Natasha Thahane – 5.49%
- 10. Jezelle Catherine – 5.73%
- 9. Bontle MaAfrika Moloi – 6.11%
- 8. Tevin 'Superherointraining' Musara – 6.25%
- 7. Noel Deyzel – 7.39%
- 6. AB de Villiers – 7.7%
- 5. Ryan H/D Lombard – 8.15%
- 4. Boitumelo ‘Boity’ Thulo – 8.45%
- 3. Tyla – 9.83%
- 2. Bryan Kazaka – 26.29%
- 1. John-Marc van Wyk – 37.68%
- Who is the biggest influencer in South Africa?
- Do influencers get paid in South Africa?
- Who are the top 5 celebrities in South Africa?
Key takeaways
- John-Marc van Wyk has one of the highest engagement rates among South African content creators, with around 61.08% on Instagram and 14.28% on TikTok.
- Reach and engagement rates are crucial KPIs that determine how much an influencer earns.
- South African influencers share varied content with their audience, ranging from music, lifestyle, and beauty tips to fitness, comedy, and reaction videos.
The influencer ranking criterion herein is based on the influencers' average Instagram and TikTok engagement rates, i.e. the average number of likes and comments an influencer gets compared to their number of followers. Engagement rates reflect the relationship that the influencer has with their audience.
The top South African influencers in 2025
Social media platforms have made it easier for influencers to create and share content with their audience. These top 15 internet stars are skilled at leveraging the platforms to expand their reach.
| Influencer | IG engagement | TikTok engagement | Avg engagement |
| John-Marc van Wyk | 61.08% | 14.28% | 37.68% |
| Bryan Kazaka | 45.75% | 8.19% | 26.29% |
| Tyla | 7.01% | 12.65% | 9.83% |
| Boity Thulo | 0.77% | 16.13% | 8.45% |
| Ryan H/D Lombard | 3.55% | 12.74% | 8.15% |
| AB de Villiers | 1.94% | 13.45% | 7.7% |
| Noel Deyzel | 5.14% | 9.64% | 7.39% |
| Tevin 'Superherointraining' Musara | 5.56% | 6.93% | 6.25% |
| Bontle MaAfrika Moloi | 3.06% | 9.16% | 6.11% |
| Jezelle Catherine | 0.63% | 10.82% | 5.73% |
| Natasha Thahane | 1.48% | 9.5% | 5.49% |
| Princess Sachiko | 1.12% | 9.65% | 5.39% |
| William Last KRM | 1.19% | 9.42% | 5.31% |
| Crystal Greeff-Katsini | 0.9% | 8.69% | 4.8% |
| Mihlali Ndamase | 1.35% | 7.55% | 4.45% |
Brands have been using influencers to promote their products because it is more targeted and organic than traditional advertising. The new generation of social media celebrities has found easier ways to interact with their followers. Here is a detailed look at the popular South African influencers:
15. Mihlali Ndamase – 4.45%
Source: Instagram
- Instagram: 2.3 million followers
- X (Twitter): 1.3 million
- YouTube: 457,000 subscribers
- TikTok: 341,200 followers
- Date of birth: November 29, 1996
- Age: 28 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: KwaZulu-Natal
The South African businesswoman Mihlali Ndamase is a certified makeup artist, digital entrepreneur, and social media influencer. She shares engaging content on beauty, fashion, and lifestyle. In 2021, she featured on Forbes Africa's 30 Under 30.
14. Crystal Greeff-Katsini – 4.8%
Source: Instagram
- TikTok: 7.3 million followers
- Instagram: 609,000 followers
- Date of birth: March 27, 1998
- Age: 27 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: Durban
Crystal Greeff-Katsini, also known as 'The Lady with the Bendy Face,' is among emerging South African female influencers. The Durban-born content creator started posting comedy content on TikTok in early 2020 and quickly earned an engaging audience.
13. William Last KRM – 5.31%
Source: Instagram
- TikTok: 22.7 million followers
- Instagram: 8.6 million followers
- YouTube: 2.83 million subscribers
- Date of birth: March 8, 1996
- Age: 29 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: Gaborone, Botswana
Bofelo William Molebatsi, aka William Last KRM, is a comedy sensation with a vibrant social media presence in South Africa and other countries. He gets an average of 89,500 likes per Instagram post and 123,200 likes per TikTok post. The Botswana-born influencer shares hilarious skits and is also a talented rapper.
12. Princess Sachiko – 5.39%
Source: Instagram
- TikTok: 19.8 million followers
- YouTube: 4.14 million subscribers
- Instagram: 1.1 million followers
- Date of birth: February 28, 2001
- Age: 24 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: South Africa
Princess Sachiko is known for her cosplay and kawaii-themed videos that earn her an average of 19,000 likes per Instagram post and 30,800 likes per TikTok post. Her content often features her wearing cat ears, showcasing colourful hairstyles, and dancing.
11. Natasha Thahane – 5.49%
Source: UGC
- Instagram: 6.3 million followers
- X (Twitter): 2.7 million followers
- TikTok: 1.2 million followers
- Date of birth: September 25, 1995
- Age: 29 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: Orlando East, Soweto
Thahane is a social media personality and actress known for her roles in shows like Skeem Saam and Blood & Water. She has millions of followers and gets an average of 933,300 likes per Instagram post and 775,100 likes per TikTok post. Natasha Thahane is the face of Garnier's Even & Matte skincare range and has been a brand ambassador for brands like Audi and Coca-Cola.
10. Jezelle Catherine – 5.73%
Source: Instagram
- TikTok: 11.3 million followers
- YouTube: 6.05 million subscribers
- Instagram: 584,000 followers
- Date of birth: March 2, 2002
- Age: 23 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: South Africa
Jezelle Catherine is among the emerging young influencers in South Africa. She creates engaging point-of-view and acting videos that get an average of 9,700 likes per Instagram post and 55,700 likes per TikTok post. Her follower count has skyrocketed since she started posting in 2020.
9. Bontle MaAfrika Moloi – 6.11%
Source: UGC
- Instagram: 4.1 million followers
- TikTok: 3.6 million followers
- X (Twitter): 613,700 followers
- Date of birth: October 7, 1990
- Age: 34 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: Soweto, Johannesburg
Bontle MaAfrika Moloi, formerly Bontle Modiselle, is a multidisciplinary artist with a significant social media presence. She gets an average of 123,300 likes per Instagram post and 190,200 likes per TikTok. Her work spans creative directing, choreography, acting, and dancing.
8. Tevin 'Superherointraining' Musara – 6.25%
Source: Instagram
- TikTok: 9.2 million followers
- YouTube: 8.95 million subscribers
- Instagram: 4.4 million followers
- Date of birth: June 1, 1996
- Age: 28 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: Cape Town
Tevin Musara creates comedy skits and reaction videos that he shares with his over 22 million fan base. He started posting content in early 2020. Tevin studied acting and theatre at the University of Cape Town.
7. Noel Deyzel – 7.39%
Source: Instagram
- TikTok: 7.7 million followers
- YouTube: 7.29 million subscribers
- Instagram: 6 million followers
- Date of birth: September 30, 1984
- Age: 40 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: Johannesburg
Noel Deyzel has established himself as a fitness influencer and bodybuilder with over 20 million followers across his social media platforms. He gets an average of 247,300 likes per Instagram post and 44,000 likes per TikTok post. Noel Deyzel's content entails workout routines, dietary advice, and motivational videos.
6. AB de Villiers – 7.7%
Source: Getty Images
- Instagram: 26.6 million followers
- Facebook: 13 million followers
- X (Twitter): 9.7 million followers
- TikTok: 204,900 followers
- Date of birth: February 17, 1984
- Age: 41 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: Limpopo
Abraham Benjamin de Villiers has one of the highest numbers of Instagram followers in South Africa, with an average of 116,600 likes per post. The former international cricketer transitioned into cricket commentary and analysis. He has also been a brand ambassador for FairPlay, Wrogn, Tata Motors, Last Man Stands league, Aca Joe, SuperSport, Montblanc, and Audi.
5. Ryan H/D Lombard – 8.15%
Source: Instagram
- TikTok: 11.5 million followers
- YouTube: 9.95 million subscribers
- Instagram: 1.2 million followers
- Date of birth: February 1, 1998
- Age: 27 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: South Africa
Ryan H/D Lombard is known for his comedic videos and currently gets an average of 34,800 likes per Instagram post and 50,000 likes per TikTok post. The Gordon's Bay-based content creator has gained a significant following for his relatable humour, often focusing on family dynamics, school life, and everyday situations.
4. Boitumelo ‘Boity’ Thulo – 8.45%
Source: Getty Images
- Instagram: 6.3 million followers
- X (Twitter): 4 million followers
- TikTok: 208,500 followers
- Date of birth: April 28, 1990
- Age: 34 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: Potchefstroom, North West
Boity Thulo gets an average of 33,300 likes per Instagram post and 30,900 likes per TikTok post. Social media is just an extension of her brand as a prominent actress, television personality, rapper, and entrepreneur. In 2019, Boity Thulo featured on the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list.
3. Tyla – 9.83%
Source: Getty Images
- TikTok: 13.8 million followers
- Instagram: 11 million followers
- YouTube: 4.74 million subscribers
- Date of birth: January 30, 2002
- Age: 23 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: Johannesburg
Tyla's brand and influence have soared since the release of her viral song, Water. The musical sensation gets an average of 677,700 likes per Instagram post and 481,200 likes per TikTok post. As a multifaceted influencer, Tyla Seethal has earned notable collaborations with brands like Bose, Beats by Dre, H&M, Nike, and GAP.
2. Bryan Kazaka – 26.29%
Source: Instagram
- TikTok: 8.3 million followers
- Instagram: 224,200 followers
- Date of birth: February 10, 2002
- Age: 23 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: South Africa
Bryan Kazaka gets an average of 301,900 likes per Instagram post and 16,100 likes per TikTok post. The Gen Z influencer creates comedic videos and regularly collaborates with other popular TikTok stars.
1. John-Marc van Wyk – 37.68%
Source: Instagram
- TikTok: 7.6 million followers
- YouTube: 1.32 million subscribers
- Instagram: 494,000 followers
- Date of birth: September 19, 2002
- Age: 22 years old (as of April 2025)
- Place of birth: South Africa
John-Marc van Wyk is one of the top South African content creators with high social media engagement rates. He gets an average of 1.6 million likes per Instagram post and 21,600 likes per TikTok post. His content features comedy sketches and quirky takes on trending topics. He also openly shares about his dyslexic challenges.
Who is the biggest influencer in South Africa?
Top influencers in South Africa range from sports personalities and musicians to actresses and content creators. William Last KRM and Wian are some of the most followed people on TikTok, with over 22.5 million and 16.8 million followers, respectively. Former cricket athlete AB de Villiers is one of the most followed celebrities on Instagram, with over 26.5 million followers.
Source: Instagram
Do influencers get paid in South Africa?
Social media influencers in South Africa get paid. The amount earned varies with KPIs like reach, engagement, and conversion rates. The SA Influencer Report 2024 revealed that the average pay per post is R4,354 for pictures and R7,335 for reels.
The report also showed that the average pay per thousand followers is R305. The highest-paid influencers in South Africa meet pre-determined KPIs.
Who are the top 5 celebrities in South Africa?
South Africa has a lot of influential celebrities making waves locally and internationally. The top 5 in 2025 include the following (not ranked):
- Tyla: A rising musical sensation with prestigious global awards, including a Grammy for Best African Music Performance and the iHeartRadio Music Award for World Artist of the Year.
- Trevor Noah: He has built his brand as a comedian, author, and television host
- Charlize Theron: A globally celebrated actress and philanthropist
- Black Coffee: A Grammy-winning DJ, record producer, and songwriter
- Thuso Mbedu: Made history as the first South African actress to lead an American TV series with her role as Cora in The Underground Railroad, and later made her feature film debut in the critically acclaimed historical epic The Woman King (2022).
Source: Getty Images
South African influencers continue to make waves across social media platforms while redefining online engagements. Stay connected with those who offer relatable content.
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