Download PDFAs South Africans our economy has, undergone different phases, from recession to recovery and growth but nothing seems to show for certain how wealthy the country is.
South African youth are forced to beg for employment, some are lucky to get employed but it is not enough. Individuals must devise means to find other sources of income, simply put to have a ‘side hustle’.
Ayanda “Magolide” Madywabe (32) from Chiawelo, Soweto, works as a general worker providing services in the Freestate where he works for 8-9 hours a week.
“I started my side hustle in 2020 around the month of June to support my unborn baby and when she was born I had to work even harder to make sure that she does not lack on anything that she may need. I cannot afford to only live with the income I receive from my workplace it is not logical to do so, especially in the climate we live under, the world is unpredictable,” stated, Madywabe.
“I distribute and exchange goods. I render services such as selling anything from clothing items, to toiletry, candy, and more. I mostly like selling items that can move quickly, I get my supply from Johannesburg and sell it in Soweto where I have more clients,” said Madywabe.
“Having countless streams of income is stressful, [however] it does wonders to one’s mental [well-being] but being self-sufficient is the goal because money is never enough,” the hustler added.
Makhosazane Mazibuko (26), also from Chiawelo, Soweto, is self-employed she studied Beauty Therapy at the Pyramid Beauty School, and also at the South West Gauteng College for 8-9 hours
“I am self-taught on a few things like make-up and hair and then I decided to enrol myself to a school where I can enhance my skills,” said, Mazibuko, reporting she needed to be unique in her style and technique.
She is a hairstylist and says she started the side hustle while studying to help with her finances. Her first customers were her family and friends and other individuals.
“I charge R250 for braids and R350 for bonding and other expensive styles and I charge R400 to R700 for facebeats,” explained Mazibuko.
“As a South African, I am aware that nothing is permanent hence why I do this. I also do my research and practice a lot so that my style is unique and affordable to any working class or non-working class [person],” she said.
This article is an opinion piece submitted on 22 December 2022. The views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect those of Karibu! Online or Khanya College. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online ( www.Karibu.org.za ), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
