Latest news with #Sibeko
IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Graduates turn to side hustles amid rising unemployment in South Africa
Trapped by unemployment, South African youth are turning hustle into survival. Image: SoraAI South Africa is grappling with a rising youth unemployment crisis, prompting a new generation of graduates to seek innovative ways to survive and succeed within a failing job market. Tired of waiting for jobs that may never come, young South Africans are creating their own opportunities in the informal economy through side hustles, freelancing, and micro-enterprises. For 25-year-old Asive Sibeko, the journey from IT graduate to food hustler was not part of the plan, but it was necessary. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'I wouldn't say it's something I've always wanted to do; it's just something I did to survive in the long run,' said Sibeko, who holds both a diploma and an advanced diploma in ICT. After her internship ended in late 2024, job applications yielded no success, pushing him to start a small food business in June 2024. 'I cook beef tripe and steamed bread; the response I've been getting from students has been quite positive.' Sibeko's story is far from unique. In communities across the country, qualified graduates are turning to hustle economies not by choice, but by circumstance. Asive Sibeko, a university graduate, runs a food hustle at res after struggling to find a job. Image: Wendy Dondolo 'The system wasn't built for the informal hustler' That's according to Masindi Evans, the founder of Mas-Skincare Solution and Masindi Shoe Laundry, who has used social media platforms to reach clients and grow his brand. 'Truth: We're producing graduates with no income, while informal traders make money with no degree,' Evans wrote in a Facebook post. 'The system is rich, the people are poor, the system wasn't built for the informal hustler, you have to bend it or go around it.' He encourages youth to build community networks, teach each other, and use platforms like TikTok and WhatsApp to bypass gatekeeping and find customers directly. Sisanda Madywathi, a young woman who recently started a home-based hair business, echoed similar frustrations. 'I saw that if I don't sell anything, I'll never get money. I feel time is running out for me and my family is looking up to me,' she said, highlighting the emotional burden many young people carry. A growing number of graduates feel betrayed by the promise of education. While degrees open doors for some, many find that job specifications demand experience they simply don't have. 'I feel like the education system did not prepare me for the real job market,' said Sibeko. 'Most companies do require a lot of experience from fresh graduates which is very unfair, that is like the biggest reason why many graduates can't find work.' This 'experience trap' is compounded by a saturated job market. Justin Durandt, Managing Director at Key Recruitment, says his company phased out its graduate division years ago. 'The graduate market has become increasingly saturated, and employers' expectations have shifted, prioritising prior experience or job readiness, even for entry-level roles,' he said. Sisand Madywathi started a hair business after struggling to find a job. Image: Wendy Dondolo For many, the hustle is not just about survival, it's also about maintaining a sense of dignity and mental stability. Clinical psychologist Dr Reitumetse Mashego urges young people to find healthier coping mechanisms in the face of unemployment. 'Finding healthier coping strategies such as exercise and seeking mental health intervention (there are free services), Getting involved in some community initiatives or volunteering to showcase what they can do,' she said. Dr Mashego also advises families to offer more than just sympathy. 'Continually reassure them that they did the best that they could and support them in looking at other skills they can develop that can generate an income.' What emerges through these stories is a common thread: resilience. Young people are no longer waiting for the system to rescue them; they are building their own. Whether it's selling skincare, food, hair services or second-hand clothes, South Africa's youth are writing their own economic scripts. And while the system may be broken, they are proving daily that hustle is a language they speak fluently. As Masindi Evans put it; 'Yes, the system is unfair. But that's why we create our own systems.' Cape Argus
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Resilience Amidst Crisis: South Africa's youth turn to hustles to survive and Thrive
Trapped by unemployment, South African youth are turning hustle into surviva Image: File In the face of South Africa's escalating youth unemployment crisis, a new generation of graduates is redefining what it means to survive and thrive in a broken system. Tired of waiting for jobs that may never come, young South Africans are creating their own opportunities in the informal economy through side hustles, freelancing, and micro-enterprises. For 25-year-old Asive Sibeko, the journey from IT graduate to food hustler was not part of the plan, but it was necessary. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'I wouldn't say it's something I've always wanted to do; it's just something I did to survive in the long run,' said Sibeko, who holds both a diploma and an advanced diploma in ICT. After her internship ended in late 2024, job applications yielded no success, pushing him to start a small food business in June 2024. 'I cook beef tripe and steamed bread; the response I've been getting from students has been quite positive.' Sibeko's story is far from unique. In communities across the country, qualified graduates are turning to hustle economies not by choice, but by circumstance. Asive Sibeko, a university graduate, runs a food hustle at res after struggling to find a job. Image: Wendy Dondolo 'The system wasn't built for the informal hustler' That's according to Masindi Evans, the founder of Mas-Skincare Solution and Masindi Shoe Laundry, who has used social media platforms to reach clients and grow his brand. 'Truth: We're producing graduates with no income, while informal traders make money with no degree,' Evans wrote in a Facebook post. 'The system is rich, the people are poor, the system wasn't built for the informal hustler, you have to bend it or go around it.' He encourages youth to build community networks, teach each other, and use platforms like TikTok and WhatsApp to bypass gatekeeping and find customers directly. Sisanda Madywathi, a young woman who recently started a home-based hair business, echoed similar frustrations. 'I saw that if I don't sell anything, I'll never get money. I feel time is running out for me and my family is looking up to me,' she said, highlighting the emotional burden many young people carry. A growing number of graduates feel betrayed by the promise of education. While degrees open doors for some, many find that job specifications demand experience they simply don't have. 'I feel like the education system did not prepare me for the real job market,' said Sibeko. 'Most companies do require a lot of experience from fresh graduates which is very unfair, that is like the biggest reason why many graduates can't find work.' This 'experience trap' is compounded by a saturated job market. Justin Durandt, Managing Director at Key Recruitment, says his company phased out its graduate division years ago. 'The graduate market has become increasingly saturated, and employers' expectations have shifted, prioritising prior experience or job readiness, even for entry-level roles,' he said. Sisand Madywathi started a hair business after struggling to find a job. Image: Wendy Dondolo For many, the hustle is not just about survival, it's also about maintaining a sense of dignity and mental stability. Clinical psychologist Dr Reitumetse Mashego urges young people to find healthier coping mechanisms in the face of unemployment. 'Finding healthier coping strategies such as exercise and seeking mental health intervention (there are free services), Getting involved in some community initiatives or volunteering to showcase what they can do,' she said. Dr Mashego also advises families to offer more than just sympathy. 'Continually reassure them that they did the best that they could and support them in looking at other skills they can develop that can generate an income.' What emerges through these stories is a common thread: resilience. Young people are no longer waiting for the system to rescue them; they are building their own. Whether it's selling skincare, food, hair services or second-hand clothes, South Africa's youth are writing their own economic scripts. And while the system may be broken, they are proving daily that hustle is a language they speak fluently. As Masindi Evans put it; 'Yes, the system is unfair. But that's why we create our own systems.' IOL News
TimesLIVE
29-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Probe into attempted murder of Sandringham teacher leads to 8 arrests
The Gauteng organised crime investigation (OCI) unit has arrested three suspects and five alleged accomplices in connection with an attack on a Johannesburg teacher. Capt Tintswalo Sibeko said the officers are investigating an attempted murder case opened in Sandringham on December 3, where a deputy principal at a local school was shot and wounded. They traced two suspects to Jeppe and one in Phumula near Vosloorus on Wednesday morning. A few hours later, five more suspects, in a Toyota Corolla, were apprehended on the M2 highway, near the Maritzburg on-ramp within the Jeppe policing precinct. They were allegedly about to commit an armed robbery. Police seized five handguns and ammunition. 'Three of the suspects have been linked to attempted murder while five have, for now, been charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition,' Sibeko said.
The Citizen
06-05-2025
- The Citizen
Video: Would-be robber loses leg in failed Ekurhuleni cash-in-transit heist
In a daring armed robbery attempt in Phola Park Extension 5 in Thokoza, Ekurhuleni, the would-be robbers fled without stealing any cash. Kathorus Mail reports that the attempted heist occurred today, on the corner of Khumalo and Murubisi streets, where a silver BMW rammed into a Fidelity cash van. According to eyewitnesses, 10 men were involved in the attempted robbery, and they escaped the scene in three vehicles. However, preliminary investigations suggest that one of the men suffered a severe injury during the bombing of the van – the loss of his leg. The vehicle used to ram the cash van was abandoned at the scene. The police are investigating the attempted robbery and possible attempted murder. Captain Tintswalo Sibeko of the Gauteng SAPS reports that the investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to identify the men and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. 'A large-scale investigation is already underway, and witnesses are being questioned,' says Sibeko. The foiled heist has raised concerns about security in the area, and residents are waiting for further updates from police. @albertonrecord A daring armed robbery attempt on May 6 in Phola Park Extension 5, Thokoza, failed when suspects fled without stealing any cash. The incident occurred at the corner of Khumalo and Murubisi streets, where a silver BMW rammed into a Fidelity cash van. According to eyewitnesses, 10 men were involved in the attempted robbery, and they escaped the scene in three vehicles. However, preliminary investigations suggest that one of the suspects suffered a severe injury during the incident, which involved the loss of his leg. Read full story on ♬ original sound – Alberton Record Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
