As the cost of living goes up and a single salary doesn't go as far each month, more South Africans are looking for ways to make money on the side. The good news is that the chances have never been easier to get to. You don't need a degree, a lot of money, or the right connections to get started. You only need the right idea and the desire to get started.
These are the best side jobs that South Africans are doing right now to make real money.
1. Sell Things on the Internet
One of the best ways to make extra money in South Africa right now is to start an online store. Shopify and other platforms make it easy to set up a professional store and start selling to customers all over the country, or even the world, whether you make your own products, buy them locally, or dropship them. Thousands of South Africans are making money through their online stores, with some making as little as a few thousand rand a month and others making a full-time income. The cost to start is low, the potential is high, and your store works for you even while you sleep.
2. Flipping and Reselling
Buy low and sell high is one of the oldest scams in the world, and it works really well in South Africa. People buy used things from markets, Facebook Marketplace, or garage sales and then sell them for more money on Gumtree, their own online store, or social media. Clothes, electronics, furniture, and collectibles are all popular. Some resellers make an extra R5,000 to R20,000 a month doing this part-time.
3. Freelancing
If you know how to do something, like write, design graphics, manage social media, edit videos, build websites, or do accounting, someone will pay you for it. South African freelancers can find clients from around the world on sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour. When you change your dollars or pounds to rands, even a few hours of work a week can add up to a lot of extra money.
4. Making content
YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram aren't just for fun; they can also make you money. Content creators in South Africa make money from ads, brand deals, and affiliate marketing. You don't have to be well-known to get started. Choose a niche that interests you, like cooking, car reviews, personal finance, comedy, beauty, and start posting regularly. It takes time to build, but the potential to make money is high.
5. Teaching and tutoring online
There are parents and students who will pay you for your knowledge if you are good at a subject. Tutors for math, science, English, and accounting are always needed. You can teach students in person in your area or use online tools like Zoom to teach students all over the country. Some tutors charge between R150 and R400 an hour. You can also make and sell online courses on sites like Udemy or Teachable.
6. Cooking and Baking
People in South Africa love to eat, and businesses that make food at home are doing very well. The food hustle is still going strong. People still deliver lunchbox meals to offices and sell custom cakes, koesisters, vetkoek, and meal preps through WhatsApp and Instagram. Many successful food business owners started out in their own kitchens with only a few tools and grew into full catering businesses.
7. Delivery and Transport
You can make extra money with Mr. D, Uber Eats, or Bolt Food if you have a car or a motorcycle. You set your own hours and get paid for each delivery. A lot of drivers do this on weekends or after their main job to make extra money. It's hard work, but you can't beat the flexibility.
8. Dropshipping
Dropshipping is when you sell things online but don't have any stock. Your supplier sends the product directly to the customer when they place an order. You don't touch the product; you just do the marketing and customer service. It doesn't require any money up front for stock, which makes it one of the easiest e-commerce models for South Africans with little money to start.
9. photography and video
Smartphones have made photography easier than ever — but that hasn’t reduced the demand for quality work. In fact, it’s the opposite.
People still want professionals for:
- Weddings
- Matric dances
- Events
- Business and product photos
If you’ve got a decent camera (or even a good phone to start), you can begin building your portfolio right away. Offer your services, get real experience, and increase your prices as you improve. This is one of those hustles where skill = income.
10. Social media management
Most small businesses in South Africa know they should be posting on social media… but they don’t have the time or knowledge to do it properly.
That’s your opportunity.
If you understand platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok, you can: Create content , manage posts, and grow their pages
And get paid for it.
Typical rates:
- R1,500 – R5,000 per month per client
REMEMBER!!
No side hustle works without consistency.
The people who are actually making money don’t treat this like a “try and see” — they treat it like a business from day one.
They:
- Show up daily
- Stay consistent
- Reinvest what they earn
- Keep improving