5 Side Hustles that are Proudly South African

Many a person – or South African, rather – prefers having an additional income. These side hustles are supposed to supplement a main hustle or get you through a patch where you are strapped for cash. And if you are extremely patriotic, why not start a side hustle that shows you are proudly South African?

Crafts as a Side Hustle

Citizens drive past the creative beadwork, artwork, sculptures and decor items every day. It’s hard to drive anywhere without passing at least one creative hawker selling their wares next to the road.

Creatives who are looking to turn an artistic skill into a side hustle can start by making items that consumers may want. This can be beaded animals, carved statuettes, salad bowls or even utensils. The most important rule is that you have the skill to turn your favourite crafts into something that consumers will want to buy, so keep an eye on trends you see rising.

Follow patterns that are well-known to South Africans, or remind you of your roots. You can use colour schemes that mimic the national flag, make animals that are distinct in SA or even artworks that showcase national landmarks.

You can sell your crafts at crafters’ markets or on online stores like Etsy.

Monetise your Blog

Tech-savvy individuals with a flair for writing can easily start their own blog, however, the monetisation part is what makes it tricky.

Some ways to monetise your writing are to use affiliate links, Google AdSense and even sponsored content.

The content that you write about can focus on South African life, whether it’s culture, landmarks, travel, cuisine or something else.

Curate Uniquely South African Travel Experiences

What’s more proudly South African than encouraging domestic and international tourists to explore what you love most about your country, than creating eclectic travel experiences?

You can specialise in tailored itineraries that help visitors experience the best of your area. This can be anywhere from booking accommodation, organising activities and making meal reservations.

You can either approach this side hustle by creating a website or advertising your services on social media. You can also turn to sites like Viator, GetYourGuide, and ToursByLocals that sell travel experiences online.

Catering Service as a Side Hustle

For passionate home cooks, starting a catering side hustle can be a great way to live out your passion while earning an income. In South Africa, this can be a good idea because it gives you the opportunity to teach other people about your culture’s cuisine, share SA flavours and experiment with different fusions of food.

Food business alternatives that don’t include listing as a ghost kitchen on Uber Eats or Mr D include hosting cooking classes, meal prep service, or opening a home bakery. All of these ideas can be on booking only, meaning that your side hustle can accommodate your life in other aspects as well. You can schedule classes on weekends or evenings when it doesn’t interfere with your job or family responsibilities.

Hairdresser Specialising in African Hair

Starting a hairdresser business is a quick way to earn cash without spending a chunk of money. The individual starting this side hustle can also be of any age, either fresh out of school or mature in age. The only real limitation is skill, and even that can be overcome.

A mobile hair salon is the ideal solution when you don’t have any facilities. Some of the services you might be able to offer are braiding, twisting, styling and cutting (including shaving).

The reason why it is ideal to start a hair salon for African hair is that it is a huge industry in South Africa. There are more thirty four thousand formal hair care salons in South Africa to prove it!

It is a great side hustle as most appointments can be booked after hours or on weekends when working women are free. Once you have obtained a large enough client base to make it your main hustle, this approach can still earn you cash.

If you are aiming to later turn your side hustle into a full-on business, read A Guide to Opening a Hair Salon.

With such a wide range of options to choose from, starting your side hustle is a must.