Not everyone can get a full time job right now. That is okay. Many people in South Africa survive on side hustles – small businesses you run in your spare time. But the best side hustle in Cape Town is not the same as the best side hustle in Durban. The cities are different. The weather is different. The people and their needs are different. In this post I will compare side hustles in Cape Town and Durban so you can choose the one that fits your area.
Let me start with Cape Town.
Cape Town has a lot of tourists, especially in summer (November to March). It also has many remote workers – people who sit on their laptops all day and order food and services online. The cost of living is high, so people are willing to pay for convenience.
Good side hustles in Cape Town:
- Car washing at home or office. Many people in suburbs like Table View, Rondebosch, and Constantia will pay R150 for someone to wash their car at their house. You just need a bucket, soap, a sponge, and a hose. I know a guy who started with one customer and now has 15 regulars. He makes R2000 per week on weekends.
- Dog walking. In areas like Sea Point and Green Point, many people own dogs but work long hours. They pay R50 to R100 for a 30 minute walk. You can walk three dogs at the same time. That is R150 to R300 per hour.
- Delivering goods from the city bowl to suburbs. There is a big market for delivery of food, medicine, and parcels because traffic is bad. If you have a scooter or even a bicycle, you can sign up for Uber Connect or do your own service on WhatsApp. Charge R50 per delivery within 5km.
- Selling cold drinks and ice at the beach. During summer, Muizenberg, Clifton, and Camps Bay are full of people. A cold Coke costs R5 at the shop but you can sell it for R15. Ice is even better. Buy bags of ice at the garage for R10 and sell a cup of ice for R5. Do the maths.
Now let me talk about Durban.
Durban is different. The weather is warm and humid most of the year. There are fewer tourists (except December holidays). But Durban has many townships and large families. People are price sensitive. They want value.
Good side hustles in Durban:
- Fruit and vegetable street vending. In areas like Umlazi, KwaMashu, and Chatsworth, people buy fresh produce every day. Go to the Early Morning Market at 5am, buy a crate of tomatoes for R150, then sell them in smaller bags for R10 each. You can double your money by lunch time.
- Car guard with extras. Being a car guard is common, but you can stand out by offering window washing or carrying groceries to the car. In busy places like Workshop Mall or Pavillion, people tip more if you do extra. I have seen car guards make R300 on a Saturday.
- Ice block selling. Not ice cream – ice blocks (freeze pops). Buy a box of 100 for R50 at a wholesale shop. Sell each for R2 or R3 outside schools, taxi ranks, and beaches. In the Durban heat, they sell fast.
- Fixing phones and gadgets. Many people in Durban have smartphones with cracked screens or bad batteries. You can learn basic repairs on YouTube. Buy replacement parts from China Mall. Charge R150 to replace a screen. The parts cost R50. You make R100 profit per phone. Do three phones on a Saturday and you have R300.
Which city is better for side hustles?
If you live in Cape Town, focus on services for rich people and tourists – car washing, dog walking, delivery. If you live in Durban, focus on high volume, low price goods – veg selling, ice blocks, repairs. Also remember that in Cape Town the busy season is summer. In Durban it is more steady but December is the best.
One thing both cities have in common: you need WhatsApp. Create a broadcast list for your customers. Take photos of your work (clean cars, fresh vegetables, repaired phones) and send them out every week. That is free advertising.
I also want to warn you: do not quit your job search just because you have a side hustle. Use the money from your side hustle to buy data, print CVs, and pay for transport to interviews. The side hustle is a bridge, not a destination.
In conclusion, look around your area and ask: what do people need that they don’t have time to do themselves? That is your side hustle. Start small, be reliable, and grow slowly.
