YOUTUBER Lasizwe Dambuza has shocked many by asking his fans not to vote for him at the South African Social Media Awards (Sasmas).
Lasizwe, who has been nominated in three categories - African Social Media Star of the Year, Most Popular Content Across Platforms, and Social Media Personality of the Year - asked people not to waste their money.
The creative and reality TV star, whose name is Thulasizwe Dambuza (27), spoke to Daily Sun about the decision.
He said the fact that his name appeared on the nominations list was already a win on its own.
"Honestly, three nominations are huge for me. I didn't personally submit, so when I saw my name there, it was a big surprise. It just showed me that the work I've been putting out, the laughs, the content, the consistency, is reaching people. And for me, that recognition alone already feels like a win," he said.
Lasizwe explained that this year, the voting process comes at a heavy price for ordinary South Africans, something he can't ignore.
"I looked at the system this year and realised people are literally paying to vote. It's R10 for four votes. Do the math: if 100 000 votes come in, that's R250 000. A quarter of a million rand.
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"To make it worse, most award shows usually charge R1 or R1.50 per vote. Here it's R10, which is ten times higher. And in the South African economy, R10 is not just R10. It's bread, electricity, and taxi fare. I love recognition, but not at the cost of my supporters' pockets.
"The nomination itself already means the world to me. If voting was free, I'd say let's go crazy. But I can't, in good conscience, ask people to swipe their cards for me to hold a glass trophy," Lasizwe said.
The star said he knows this might spark a bigger conversation about the industry and how award shows operate.
"I hope it starts a conversation. Awards should be about impact, creativity, and the culture we create, not about who can afford to vote the most. I'm not against awards, I love them, and one day I'd love to stand on a stage and give that speech. But I want it to be authentic.
"My message is simple: your love, your views, your support online, that's the real award. And to the industry, maybe it's time to rethink how we measure greatness. Recognition should never come at the expense of the people who built you up," he added.
For its part, the Sasmas marketing team sent a response to Daily Sun, stating they respect Lasizwe's decision.
"We're aware of the public conversation that's emerged following recent commentary by Lasizwe Dambuza and appreciate the interest it has generated around the South African Social Media Awards.
"While we respect Lasizwe's right to express his views and acknowledge that he speaks authentically to his audience, we believe it's important to clarify the broader context and purpose of the Sasmas for the public and the creator community," read the statement.
They explained that all the money from the votes goes into planning and hosting the main event.
"The Sasmas is a 100% independent, self-funded Non-Profit Organisation. We do not receive corporate or institutional funding to run the awards. Every element, from the staging, production to media exposure, trophies, and creator experiences is made possible through partnerships, sponsorships, and votes from fans who want to see their favourite creators celebrated.
"The R2.50 voting fee is not a profit-making mechanism. It contributes only a small portion of the overall budget and is simply one way supporters can meaningfully participate in a system that is secure, fair, and spam-free. In that sense, every R2.50 is an act of support for the creator economy - and a gesture toward recognising the value of digital creativity in South Africa," the stetement further read.
