Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi is advocating for TikTok to compensate South African content creators through the platform's Creator Fund. Currently, the fund, which enables creators with substantial followings to monetize their content, is limited to only seven countries: the US, UK, Germany, Japan, South Korea, France, and Brazil.

Despite South Africa boasting over 17 million TikTok users, its content creators are excluded from this fund, relying instead on brand partnerships and user-generated gifts during live sessions for income. In an interview with eNCA, Minister Malatsi addressed this disparity, stating that his department has engaged with TikTok's parent company on the matter.

"The exclusion of South Africa from the Creator Fund represents an economic injustice that needs rectification," Malatsi asserted. He emphasized the significant impact of South African TikTok creators on the platform's growth and revenue generation, arguing that this contribution warrants the extension of the Creator Fund to South Africa.

Malatsi stressed the importance of fairly rewarding digital entrepreneurs, such as content creators, to foster meaningful participation in the digital economy. He highlighted the need for access to monetization opportunities comparable to those available in other regions.

He further stated, "We have engaged with TikTok's leadership and will continue to exert pressure until we achieve a breakthrough that ensures economic justice for our content creators." Malatsi pledged to champion the cause of fair compensation for South African creators, underscoring his commitment to securing global recognition for the country's digital entrepreneurs.

"My role is to advocate for fair treatment for South Africa and to ensure our digital entrepreneurs receive the global recognition they deserve. The global impact of our content creators provides a strong foundation for this demand. We recognize the numerous economic opportunities that extending the Creator Fund would unlock, benefiting not only young creators but also small businesses," he added.

South African creators have been actively campaigning for the fund's introduction in the country. A petition initiated on Change.org by Thulane Radebe in November highlighted the fact that South African creators, who dedicate significant effort to their content, are being overlooked by TikTok's financial support system.