More than 52,000 crowdfunding campaigns have been launched on BackaBuddy since the start of the year, with medical emergencies continuing to dominate as South Africans increasingly turn to online fundraising to cope with rising financial pressures.
According to BackaBuddy, 52,509 campaigns were created on the platform during the first six months of 2026, marking a significant increase compared with the same period last year.
“Health and medical campaigns continue to be one of the strongest categories on BackaBuddy. Many of these campaigns are created by families and communities raising funds for medical emergencies, surgeries, treatment, rehabilitation, assistive devices and other healthcare-related needs,” BackaBuddy spokesperson and Campaigns Lead Simbulele Jezile said.
Jezile told IOL the marked increase in campaigns in 2026 was driven by a combination of platform changes and broader economic realities.
“BackaBuddy’s move to a 0% platform fee model has made it easier for individuals, families, charities and communities to start fundraising, while ensuring more of each donation goes toward the intended cause.
“At the same time, more South Africans are turning to crowdfunding because traditional safety nets are under pressure. We continue to see strong demand from families raising funds for medical care, students facing historical debt or registration costs, communities supporting local needs, and participants using peer-to-peer fundraising linked to major sporting and community events,” explained Jezile.
Jezile said crowdfunding had evolved beyond responding only to major crises.
“Crowdfunding is no longer only used in moments of major crisis. It has become a practical tool for everyday South Africans to respond to urgent needs, support one another and mobilise their communities.”
One of the strongest-performing campaigns this year, based on funds raised, was Olive’s Stem Cell Transplant Fund which currently stands at over R1.7-million, while one of the year’s most widely shared campaigns was the fundraiser for Warrant Officer Karl Sanders.
“One of the most widely discussed and rapidly funded campaigns this year was the campaign for Warrant Officer Karl Sanders. The campaign gained strong traction because it was featured across local media and widely shared on social media. It also connected with the public because it was a relatable community-driven story that people could respond to quickly and directly,” said Jezile.
BackaBuddy declined to disclose the number of campaigns that had been rejected during the reporting period but said all campaigns undergo standard review processes.
“Campaigns on BackaBuddy are assessed against the platform’s Terms and Conditions and platform standards. A campaign may be rejected, reviewed, restricted or removed where it does not meet the requirements for using the platform, including our verification, compliance, donor protection and platform integrity standards,” said Jezile.
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