r/AskZA

I was wondering how much do people make in today’s current economy and South Africa’s difficult employment situation, especially after graduating.

When looking at data such as the K-Recovery, many salaries have fallen behind what a comfortable cost of living lifestyle entails… The ideal salary needed to live in bigger cities requires R40k a month. I know that’s not the case for a lot of people.

So through this I wanted to get a better perspective on the industry that I’m in and if the only way to reach that salary is by starting my own business/or gaining a ton of experience in one field.

In my situation, I earn roughly R10k a month, with accommodation/WiFi included. I studied a BBA in Hospitality Management and I’m working in a role that required that. I’m grateful for it, but just wanted to see what level other careers/jobs are at after graduation.

I would like to save up and study more one day, how does one go about making more in such situations (without having to go overseas).

I have been a member of Virgin Active for the last year through Vitality and I am super happy with the setup and monthly price I pay. I received a email from Virgin active saying my contract expires end of June and will then be month to month but I am not sure if this is true if you have the Vitality benefit.
Anyone else have any insight how it works after your first year? Will it just continue on indefinitely or must I sign another 12 month contract?

Thank you any insight will be appreciated !

I have 700k and I don’t know what to do with it, please help with investment ideas.

I want to sell homemade biscuits from my home country for extra money, sometimes (not all the time because I'm very busy with work and I don't want to make it a business). But where can I sell them? Unfortunately my church has already told me I can't sell them outside of the church, so I need other ideas.

I'm unfamiliar with the laws here for selling homemade food like this. However I see people selling things often. But also tbh I'm a little apprehensive because I'm white.

I think I'll be able to be fairly successful with it if I find the right location/situation. I currently live in the northern suburbs of Cape Town.

Btw, before people judge, Im here as a humanitarian. My income comes from overseas but I'm not a digital nomad. My job doesn't take away from nationals here and in everything I do, I try to contribute positively to the economy and people of South Africa. I'm married to a coloured South African and I'm on the long track to someday become an SA citizen in which it would be a high honor. My husband and I work together and we have many South African colleagues.

Really excited about this new job I have, but man, I'm struggling with ideas and AI is giving lame answers.

Long story short, I am working for a neo bank wanting to rival card payments in South Africa. Basically its a VISA card where you pay with crypto, and the person you pay doesn't need to set up a new POS or even know you're paying with crypto.

Anyways. My task is to get 1000 people to try this out, get something fun going, but it's just not easy. South Africa has a smaller crypto community, and getting the right people to make this move is very difficult. Focus is more on-ground grass route marketing, not online ads at this stage.

I'm targeting Cape Town first (I live in Jeffreys Bay), and they are willing to put in a couple of hundred thousand rand in marketing campaigns to get this thing going. I just need to find the right ideas and get them going.

Currently, I am trying to partner with 20+ coffee shops where you get 50% off your coffee at that cafe for a month. I'm trying giveaways, I'm trying crypto community events and so on. But I really want to get this pushed within the next 2 months to over 1K trying the card, and ideally 100+ that make it their daily card.

Do you have any ideas that could work in Cape Town?

I'm trying to work out whether I'm being paranoid or whether something's actually going on, and I'd really value some outside perspective.

I worked at a fairly good company (recognisable in certain business circles) from 2017 to early 2022, about 4 years. I started in an entry-level operations/admin role, got promoted twice, and left on my own terms for what looked like a good step up, and at the time, not a bad time for the team. While reflecting, I had gone through 7 managers, none of whom lasted more than 6-8 months in the role (even less), and I basically became self-reliant.

I still keep my own records of the work I completed. I even noticed some of my work mysteriously appearing at another company I was collaborating with, although I wasn't the one who introduced it there. I figured out that a teammate had copied all their previous work and simply pasted it into the new role, unaware that I had spent nearly a week putting that work together. Anyway...

No performance improvement plans, no warnings, no disciplinary issues. I left because I wanted to, not because anything went wrong.

The company was growing and restructuring constantly while I was there, and I was open with my managers that the pace was tough at times. But I kept delivering, which is presumably why I was kept around.

Here's what I can't make sense of: since I left in early 2022, I've basically hit a wall. I can't land roles I'm clearly qualified for — same level, sometimes a step below what I was already doing. I've burnt through savings and have been stitching together freelance work to get by. For 3.5 years my career moved steadily forward, and then the moment I leave, I can barely get a callback. The one new variable is that prospective employers now phone my old company for a references.

The other thing nagging at me: three managers I worked closely with for years have all gone quiet when I've reached out, just normal, friendly check-ins. Could be nothing. But it's three for three.

So I'm considering sending a POPIA Section 23 request to my former employer asking for my own records — job descriptions, promotion documentation, any performance reviews (and confirmation that no PIPs or warnings exist), and the content of any references they've given on my behalf, including who received them and when.

My questions for anyone who's been near this:

1. Has anyone actually done a POPIA request for reference content? Did the employer comply, or just stonewall with "we only confirm dates of employment"?
2. If they refuse or ignore it, what's the realistic next step?
3. If it turns out a reference contradicts my documented record — say it implies performance problems when I was promoted twice with no warnings — is that actually worth doing anything about in SA, or is it just throwing money at lawyers?
4. Am I right to be suspicious here, or is there a more boring explanation I'm not seeing?

I'm honestly not out for anything. I've essentially lost my income, and looking for some answers so I can move on.

Lately I’ve realized I’ve become that uncle younger people look up to. The one they bring their CVs to like I’m secretly connected to every company. 

And I take the CV very seriously too.
“Sharp, leave it with me. I’ll see what I can do.”

That CV ends up resting peacefully in my Downloads folder like it has completed its life mission.

The pressure is real because people think once you wear formal clothes and go to work every morning, you automatically have “links.”

Meanwhile I’m also fighting for my own survival, annual leave approval, and office WiFi.

The worst part is when they follow up:
“Any update on my CV?”

And now I must start speaking corporate English:
“Things are in progress. We are monitoring the situation.”

Meanwhile absolutely nothing is happening 

Adulting is realizing the adults we looked up to were also just freestyling life.

I have a full time job with good pay. My wife also earns well. We can afford rent and our living expenses for the month and every last bit goes to savings which isn't a lot. I want to figure out a way to make some extra spending money so our salary can go fully towards savings for emergencies and then we can use the spending money for other things. I've tried Facebook marketplace flipping but its not reliable and way too slow. What could I do after work hours to make some extra cash? Im open to any ideas. But trust me I've tried many different things but just can't find something that actually works

How can I make R10 000-R15 000 within a month?

I am a self-funded student, however currently on “pause” due to not being registered because I did not have the funds for it. For the past two years I have been struggling to payoff my student debt, and to register so I can finish off my degree.

I don’t have financial support, I don’t qualify for bursaries and student loans, and I have applied on external fundraising platforms but they’re taking forever to approve my profile (it’s been 3 months now), and not so surprisingly—finding employment in our country is almost impossible. It also doesn’t help that I’m a small town in the worst economic performing province.

I want to settle my debt before the next semester begins, so that I can register to complete my studies in the 2nd semester of this current academic year. I am now fishing for ideas on which channels have I maybe not tried to achieve my goals? If you have any suggestions please let me know. TIA

I own a private gym and wanted to purchase a small sauna for it. The first site that came up was spazonesa. They were so helpful and said they have a special for no delivery and free installation. The quote was so professional, everything. They messaged saying we need to pay an additional R13000 for delivery and insurance and that’s when i started to catch on… It was definitely a scam. They used another’s company’s number etc.

Is there anything I can do? Reported to FNB… Not hopeful. Please give me advice please please please 🙏 I’m in such disbelief.

Yall, I'm a 15 year old proud South african, and while I may be young. I'd like to save up 60k rand for a dream gaming pc. The only problem is that it's 60k...I've tried searching online for any part-time jobs, but they all want matric certificates for basic retail! So, do you guys know any methods to make a reasonable wage/salary or income to get to 60k in a reasonable time frame!

Hi Fam,

I have built and self funded a Fintech Startup,

I've been searching online for VCs,Accelerators, Incubator programs or even Startup communities.

But weirdly enough all I'm getting is fluff,

- Links that don't work

- Funds that are either closed or don't exist

- Projects that closed down a few years ago

- Lengthy Google forms that don't get you a response back.

Can you guys please assist me with recommendations of VCs that actually have funds to invest, Accelerator/Incubator programmes that are currently active and recruiting and SA Startup communities one can join.

Thanks in advance.

I want to earn more so that I can buy the things I need and be able to continue with my studies and the only thing holding me back is finances, any advice?

Hey all! Not entirely sure what I aim to get from this post - I am just feeling incredibly drained and would like to hear from others in similar positions.

I am a creative, always have been. Because of this, I chose to pursue a career in graphic design. After working in several agencies and in-house roles, I find my spark for creating has vanished. I certainly think mental health has played a role, but I cannot shake this feeling that working in the industry has truly destroyed my soul and crushed any whimsical creativity out of me. Everyone assumes working in this field allows us to be creative. Often that is true, but in my experience, it has had an opposite effect. I find myself constricted by rules and habits I have picked up over the years.

I am desperately trying to find a way to get my spark back. I have an intense itch to create, but I feel like I am being held hostage by industry standards.

I am at a point where I am seriously considering if I even want to continue in this field. I just feel drained and dead inside. Which really sucks when you have a desire to make, but I simply cannot expend any more energy or time on design given the workload I already have.

I have some personal side projects in mind, some of which I have attempted to start. But again, spending 8 hours designing shit that is not fulfilling to me, makes it very difficult to find the inspiration when I get home in the evening.

Has anyone been in this position where they could break out of stiff rules and practices, or rather, separate work from personal life and projects? How to balance?

Desperately looking for ways to feel fulfilled in my creative work again.

Those of you in this sub that are familiar with the American brand/store *American Eagle*, what brand/store is most similar to that here in South Africa, especially for ladies' jeans?

Where are your favorite jeans from? (Regardless of cost)

My partner and I are 11 month postpartum and we have fought everyday for the past 11 months. Its exhausting, I'm Kak tired but I'm also a hot head and never let anything slide.

Is this a normal occurrence cause I've seen many couples fight but I just can't seem to grasp why we have to fight so much. I feel like I genuinely hate him. We just had an argument right now because he's planning to go braai with his friends.

I asked why he didn't plan on telling me on telling me about it, and he said 'you make everything about yourself'. Like WTF? Am I overreacting here? I feel like I'm losing my mind. He proceeds to tell me his bra doesn't want me at the braai cause he doesn't like me.

I'm genuinely pissed typing this because I need other humans to help me understand if its okay for him to hang out with someone who has expressed they don't want to hang around me ? Am I missing something, Like why should I be with someone who's friends don't like me and why is he keeping such company if he claims he wants us to be together. Isn't a braai like a social event you take your partner with? Quite frankly I just really like braais' and it hurts to know my partner who knows this is considering to go to one without me. I know I should leave him but my circumstances at the moment don't allow that. I can't afford to rent my own place as a domestic worker once a week and I'm studying part time too.

Will this fighting ever end. I am benaai and just have had it. Its always the crazy baby mama narrative and I'm tired. I keep hearing the first year s the hardest after the baby and you shouldn't break up but honestly somethings aren't really worth it

TLDR; My partner wants to go to a housewarming braai with his friends and I'm not invited.

I know Im super ignorant but help me out. When I was growing up in the 80s I remember visiting my grandma's workers and so many ladies had their beds up on paint tins because of the tokoloshe. Later when I was working in a restaurant one of the cleaning ladies had a meltdown because she thought she saw one in the bathroom and no one would go in there. It turned out to be an action figure some kid forgot.

Made me wonder - do people believe in tokoloshes and the imkalemevana and rain birds still? In urban areas? Or is it dying out?

1. Rising loneliness is driving a new market

Tokyo one of the world’s busiest cities is seeing a surge in people paying for physical affection and human connection. This isn’t sexual; it’s about touch, presence, and emotional comfort.

2. Cuddle cafés have become mainstream

Since 2012, “cuddle-for-hire” services have grown steadily. Customers can:

• Be held or hugged
• Rest their head on someone’s lap
• Have their back lightly patted
• Hold hands
• Engage in silent eye contact

All of these are priced services, highlighting how basic human touch has become commodified.

3. The services cluster in electronics districts

These areas attract socially isolated individuals often young men who struggle with connection in daily life.

4. The industry signals a global warning

Japan’s situation is seen as an early indicator of what other countries may face as loneliness rises worldwide. The article frames it as a societal red flag rather than a quirky cultural phenomenon.

Why this matters

The piece suggests that loneliness is no longer just a personal issue, it’s becoming an economic sector. And if Japan is the “early warning system,” other nations may soon see similar industries emerge.

Hi!

I was the girl from North West asking on how to survive on 1.4k.. With my flat being 4.6k..

GUESS WHAT.

I GOT A JOB OFFER AT A DEALERSHIP!

The one I commented on someone's comment about.

It's 11.5k before deductions and commissions based on the target hours at the workshop.

Thank you ALL SO MUCH!

And yeah.. So I need to get a license 👀

I can drive, car is legal.

But I'm not.

But not for long 🙏😁