South African content creator Ndivhuwo Muhanelwa, widely known as NoChill God, has publicly confirmed that he owes the South African Revenue Service (SARS) a substantial R200,000 due to tax compliance errors.
The influencer addressed the outstanding debt on Instagram, fully accepting responsibility for the tax blunder. He framed the situation not as a scandal, but as a crucial “lesson every South African creator needs.”
Leading by Example and Seeking Disclosure
Muhanelwa emphasized that he proactively approached SARS and applied for the Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP). His primary motivation, he stated, was to lead by example and educate his peers about tax compliance rather than conceal his mistakes.
“I faced everything head-on because leadership requires honesty,” he shared.
The Independent Creator Compliance Gap
NoChill God admitted that, like many independent digital creators, he did not initially understand his tax obligations, particularly concerning provisional tax and the need to declare all income from sources like Meta and brand deals.
He realized the R200,000 bill accrued because he was unknowingly operating a “microbusiness” by funding production costs, paying freelancers, and purchasing equipment.
“I didn’t know the rules around provisional tax, late filings, and declaring ALL income… Nobody told us we’re actually running MICRO-BUSINESSES,” he wrote.
A Call for Education Over Penalties
Upon learning the truth of his debt, he accepted the R200K bill without dispute, choosing to use the embarrassing situation as a teaching moment for the creative community.
NoChill God issued a strong appeal to SARS to engage directly with influencers and invest in educating them about the system before imposing heavy penalties. He argued that many creators encounter problems simply because they lack understanding of the regulatory framework.
He urged all fellow creators to prioritize compliance, file properly, and avoid under-declaring their earnings.
