Mālō e lelei,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- South African influencers now officially taxable
- The law firm powering Nigeria’s startup boom
- Airtel Africa builds East Africa’s largest data centre
South African influencers now officially taxable
South Africa’s taxman has set its sights on social influencers. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has officially added influencers, alongside the gig economy, to its taxpayer segmentation model. This means your paid Instagram post, sponsored trip, or free gadget is now firmly on the tax radar.
The move reflects how work has shifted in the digital age. With marketing spend moving away from big agencies to individuals with large online followings, SARS says it must adapt its systems. Influencers will be treated as sole proprietors or independent contractors, depending on how they operate, and their income will fall under normal income-tax brackets.
That income isn’t just the cash wired into your account. Free clothes, hotel stays, or even gifted gadgets all count as taxable income. SARS is clear: if you earned it — in cash or kind — it must be declared. For many, that means provisional taxpayer status and filing like any other freelancer.
The tax agency insists its approach starts with education, not punishment. It’s preparing guides, videos, webinars, and rulings to help influencers understand how to comply. SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter says the goal is to provide clarity, certainty, and a “seamless taxpayer experience” while expecting influencers to “uphold their end of the bargain.”
Practically, SARS will use third-party data to match influencer income with tax returns, ensuring no gaps. The message is simple: voluntary disclosure is key, and compliance is non-negotiable.
For South Africa’s growing influencer economy, this is a big deal. It signals recognition of the sector’s economic weight, but also a reminder that digital fame doesn’t exempt anyone from tax.
The law firm powering Nigeria’s startup boom
One day, you think you’ve cracked it, a fintech idea that could onboard millions of Nigerians. The next, you’re knee-deep in regulatory paperwork that could take months to untangle. Welcome to the Nigerian business scene, where rules often feel like a bigger barrier than competition.
That’s where The Trusted Advisors come in. Founded in 2011 as a full-service law firm, the outfit has spent more than a decade navigating Nigeria’s tricky legal and regulatory maze so startups don’t have to. From Lagos to Abuja, and with reach that stretches into Europe, Asia, and the Americas, the firm’s 3 partners and 25 associates pride themselves on being the “umbrella shop” for legal headaches.
Their practice areas run wide, from corporate law and compliance to M&A, labour law, and conflict management. But perhaps what stands out most is their focus on startups. While they handle the big boys — banks, oil & gas, real estate — the firm says much of its reputation has been built on helping early-stage companies deal with compliance, licensing, and fundraising.
“Many businesses, especially startups, make avoidable mistakes simply because they don’t have the right guidance,” says Olawunmi Ojo, a managing associate. “We want to build relationships with them from infancy, correct the narrative, and guide them as they grow. It’s fulfilling to know we are part of a story.”
And they’re not just talking. Per the firm, many startups that came knocking in their earliest days are still clients today, even after evolving into industry heavyweights. For The Trusted Advisors, betting on startups isn’t just good business, it’s about being part of their growth journey.
So, what tailor-made solutions for every problem is the company looking at? Find out in Sarah’s latest for Techpoint Africa.
Airtel Africa builds East Africa’s largest data centre
Airtel Africa just kicked off construction on what’s shaping up to be East Africa’s largest data centre, a huge 44MW facility at Tatu City, right outside Nairobi. Called Nxtra by Airtel, this massive hub is built to power cloud computing and AI workloads. It’s a clear sign Kenya is aiming to be more than just a user of digital services; it wants to be a major player in the tech game.
The centre will be rolled out in two 22MW phases, with full operations expected by early 2027. Once live, it promises 99.999% uptime, high-density GPU-ready racks, and the kind of reliability that hyperscalers, enterprises, and governments have been clamouring for across Africa.
Kenya’s ICT Cabinet Secretary, William Kabogo, who led the groundbreaking ceremony, called the project a “reflection of confidence in Kenya’s economy, policies, and vision for a digitally enabled society.” In other words, Airtel’s bet on Kenya is as much about politics and stability as it is about fibre cables and server racks.
For Airtel, the facility isn’t just about tech specs. Nxtra Africa CEO Yashnath Issur says the centre is being built to the highest global standards, with a focus on sustainability, scalability, and resilience, a pitch that should resonate with global players looking for an African base. Local businesses, meanwhile, could see faster response times and lower costs as data stays closer to home.
The ripple effects go beyond technology. Construction will create hundreds of jobs, permanent roles will follow, and Airtel has promised to tap local contractors and suppliers, a move likely to inject significant capital into the Kenyan economy.
Ultimately, this project could mark a turning point: Kenya positioning itself as a serious provider of digital infrastructure, not just a market for global tech. With demand for data sovereignty and local cloud services rising fast, the Nxtra Data Centre may just be the anchor Kenya needs to cement its role as East Africa’s digital hub.
In case you missed it
- South Africa’s ABSA doubles down on AWS to fuel cloud-native banking push
What I’m watching
- The Darkest Philosophy Ever Written | Emil Cioran
- The Importance of Vulnerability
Opportunities
- Businessfront, the parent company of Techpoint Africa, is hiring a Sales Associate. Apply here.
- Businessfront, the parent company of Techpoint Africa, is looking for a Managing Editor (FMCG). Apply here.
- Flutterwave is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Paystack is recruiting a performance marketing specialist in Nigeria. Apply here.
- Kuda is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Kuda Technologies is hiring a Legal Counsel. Apply here.
- FairMoney is looking for a Head of Business Banking Product. Apply here.
- Moove is recruiting a Customer Success Executive. Apply here.
- Ecobank Nigeria is hiring a Chief Information security officer. Apply here.
- The Institute of African and Diaspora Studies at the University of Lagos is looking for a Junior Research Fellow. Apply here.
- MTN Nigeria is hiring an Operational Risk Specialist. Apply here.
- Co-Creation HUB (CcHUB) Nigeria is looking for a Head of Communications. Apply here.
- Group Vivendi Africa is hiring an IT Manager. Apply here.
- Sun King is hiring across different states in Nigeria. Apply here.
- Africa’s venture scene takes the spotlight at the Lagos Venture Finance Summit on September 5th, 2025. Hosted by Vencapital, the Summit gathers top LPs, GPs, policymakers and ecosystem leaders for high-level conversations, networking and dealmaking. A must-attend for those shaping Africa’s next wave of venture capital. Register here.
- Paystack is hiring for several roles in Nigeria and South Africa. Apply here.
- Paga is recruiting for several positions. Apply here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for several positions. Apply here.
- Are you building a startup can feel isolating, but with Equity Merchants CommunityConnect, you can network with fellow founders, experts, and investors, gaining valuable insights and exclusive resources to help you grow your business. Click here to join.
- Help us make Techpoint better for you! Your feedback shapes what comes next (your responses may potentially save my job. A bit dramatic, but still). It will only take 30 seconds to tell us what works and what doesn’t. Fill it here.
- To pitch your startup or product to a live audience, check out this link.
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- Follow Techpoint Africa’s WhatsApp channel to stay on top of the latest trends and news in the African tech space here.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
