South Africans are staring down the toughest of times: in late August, the country’s official unemployment rate reached a record high of 34.4%, again breaking the previous quarter’s figures. In its expanded definition, which now includes those who have given up looking for work, 44.4% of South Africans do not have an income.
This is against a backdrop of overwhelming debt, with recent research finding that South Africans applying for debt counselling were spending about 60% of their take-home pay just paying back debts – that’s before they could spend any money on living expenses.
South African women have an even more challenging time, with StatsSA emphasising that men are more likely to be in paid employment than women, while women are more likely to do unpaid work.
With the environment further dampened by a three percentage point drop in the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (SACCI) Business Confidence Index at the end of July 2021, and with those figures not considering the July protests, things are not looking great for work seekers.
The stats and research portray a very worrying picture, but the environment also lends itself to South Africans taking control of their own destinies, and finding ways to earn an income: there are so many ways to set up a small or micro business that need little or no start-up capital.
For example, a spare bedroom could be cleaned up and tidied and listed on a platform like AirBnB or even advertised as a room for hire on community groups on platforms like Facebook. Even if the room is only rented out for a few hundred rand per night, that money adds up over a month, and could make a huge difference in a household’s income.
Another way to earn extra income is by offering guided tours around places of interest in local neighbourhoods. South Africa’s cities are home to so many historical sites and locations of interest, and anyone with a gift for storytelling and an engaging way with guests could bring history to life for others.
Similarly, anyone with a talent for a craft could earn money by teaching others how to do it – such as knitting or crochet, for example, or painting or beadwork.
Someone who may be contemplating having to sell their car because they’re struggling to service its debt could turn it into an earning opportunity by registering it to drive on an e-hailing platform. They could drive it themselves to transport other people around in their spare time or rent it out to other drivers looking to generate an income. There are ride types for women only too, with many Bolt Women Only drivers having regular day jobs and then driving on the platform for a few hours a day after work, to top up their incomes.
Other ways to earn an income without investing significant amounts of money upfront include joining a direct marketing network, buying items on online marketplaces and then improving them before reselling for a profit. Other options include joining a food delivery platform, or selling handmade items, whether clothing, art or food.
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