Prominent TikTokers and Influencers Under Fire for Endorsing the START Program

Prominent TikTokers and Influencers Under Fire for Endorsing the START Program

The past weekend has been awash with human trafficking allegations hurled at prominent South African influencers after social media personality and DJ Cyan Boujee was called out for endorsing the Alabuga START program, a Russian-based work-equipping program geared towards helping young women worldwide acquire skills that will help them secure jobs. Initially called out by X user by @Paballo_maseko_, the discourse fueled a trend that saw many more other influencers being smoked out for allowing themselves to be figureheads of what people are alleging is a human trafficking scam targeting young women.

On the 18th of August, X account by the username @Paballo_maseko_ opened a can of worms by making a blanket post, accusing beloved influencers of being used as bait to trap young girls seeking jobs and skills to start their careers, dooming them to life as pawns for human trafficking circles.

View the original post below:

These influencers on TikTok advertise jobs in other countries to help them lore South Africans into human trafficking rings.

When this finally hits mainstream media, I will be there… hoping everyone comes back alive

— Paballo Maseko❄️ (@Paballo_maseko_) August 18, 2025

Marketed by influencers as the START Program based in Russia, the program supposedly targets girls between the ages of 18 and 22, aiming to equip them with the skills needed to jumpstart their young careers. In addition, according to these sponsored partnerships, the program also offers eligible candidates paying jobs and viable opportunities to ascend the payroll ladder corresponding to their growth. Among those promoting or have promoted START, apart from Cyan Boujee, are TikTok influencers such as PinkFur, Lux.WhyNot.Nhlax, and Siyamthanda Anita (Peachysprinkles), among others.

Authorities have since jumped on the trend as well, noting that the general public should be careful not to fall for the Program as investigations are now well underway.

[BEWARE OF ILLEGITIMATE AND/OR UNVERIFIED ’OPPORTUNITIES’ TARGETING YOUNG WOMEN]

The video clip circulated by a social media influencer, which purports to promote a 2-year long ‘START PROGRAM’ targeting young women in acquiring professional skills and commencing their careers,…

— Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (@CrimeWatch_RSA) August 24, 2025

In the wake of the backlash from the public, mostly condemnation from the public and hostility leveled against the credibility of the promoted program, Cyan Boujee has taken down her promotional video, whereas other influencers of note such as Siyamthanda Anita (Peachysprinkles) and Lux.WhyNot.Nhlakx have used their TikTok platforms to give the public their two-cents concerning their involvement in the burgeoning scandal.

Check out Siyamthanda Anita’s vlog visiting Russia to find more info on the program:

This is a developing story.