Local celebrities have found new ways of making loads of money apart from their primary jobs by endorsing certain brands or events using the pulling power of their social media accounts.

This new trend, which can earn public personalities up to R100000 in minutes for posting messages on Facebook and Twitter, among other social media vehicles, is known as "influencing".

Generations: The Legacy actress Thando Thabethe said she charges her clients R10000 per tweet as an influencer. "When brands come and want me to post about their products, that means my followers will see the tweet and their followers will see the tweet, so the reach is greater."

Thabethe has over 300000 followers on Twitter and a million followers on Instagram.

Socialite and TV presenter Khanyi Mbau said: "I weigh my options depending on how much I lose on other competitive brands. For instance, if it's Outsurance approaching me, I would charge them based on how much MiWay might have given me previously."

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