How the Internet is Providing an Enabling Environment for the South Africa Side Gig Landscape

South Africans aren’t unfamiliar with the concept of a side hustle. Indeed, according to a recent Momentum/Unisa Household Index, an estimated 14% of all households are currently engaged in side hustles.

While many people wear multiple work hats out of a love for a particular craft or to simply help others, side hustles are more often born out of necessity as South Africans struggle to make ends meet on a basic salary. This desire for a second source of income is likely what fueled the increase in inside hustlers between 2019 and late 2021.

In response to the challenges, there has been a significant increase in people from all walks of life finding creative ways to make money in South Africa across all sectors.

This resulted in the creation of Vuma’s My Community Connects initiative, which has received support and partnerships from the legendary Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse to its current ambassador, Jimmy Nevis.

By providing access to professionally produced content and upskilling individuals, the program’s online platform aims to enable South Africa’s thinkers, tastemakers, movers, and talented shakers to move forward with their businesses and projects.

“In the aftermath of COVID-19, people’s salaries dropped and they needed a way to earn more money from home under lockdown,” says Lianne Williams of Vuma.

“People used the internet to bring their side hustles to life, and they’re still doing it with great success,” she adds.

According to the Index, the most common type of side hustle was selling produce or food, followed by those selling jewelry, clothing, cosmetics, and kitchenware.

People all over the world are harnessing the power of social media for side hustle success – and given that 90% of all Instagram users follow at least one business account, it’s no surprise that so many people are looking to social media as a foundation for their side hustles and passion projects.

“During the lockdown, digital platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and even TikTok will have provided the ideal means to market and sell these items, often requiring access to uncapped internet connectivity to allow for hassle-free content creation, fast downloads, and unlimited browsing and research,” Williams says.

Many students, professionals, and even musicians have made money by providing online tutoring to students and anyone else who wants to learn a new skill from the comfort of their own home. This could range from math and science tuition to help students avoid falling behind in the school curriculum to online guitar and piano lessons.

Because the side hustle game can be quite competitive, many South Africans have realized the importance of learning a new skill or sharpening their existing skills by enrolling in online short courses, keeping an eye on industry trends, and always making sure they’re learning something new.

Skills development resources to consider include Yale University’s free online courses, paid-for short courses through schools like Red & Yellow, and even YouTube channels and tutorials that can teach you everything from how to run a successful business to how to establish an online presence for your side business.

For those with a business sense and extra space, home-sharing platforms such as Airbnb and Homestay – two of the most popular in South Africa – have become lucrative ways to earn extra money by simply sharing the spaces you own. In fact, South Africa received approximately 830,000 inbound visitors in 2017, with the average host earning just under R25,000 by renting out their space for an average of 17 nights.

“There’s nothing more South African than going after what you want and are passionate about,” says Willams. “We’re seeing that access to the internet, social media, and other online resources are the common thread that runs through all of these ventures, determining the level of success today’s side hustles can achieve.”