Here are low-cost business ideas to curb unemployment in Johannesburg townships

Starting a small business in Johannesburg’s townships needs little more than time, existing know-how, and a busy location.

Here are five unique business ideas from each group, chosen for their distinctive township fit and low start-up needs.

Read more: Trusted job platforms still open for work seekers amid high unemployment

Food and culinary

1. Kota/kasi fast food stand on high-traffic corners,
2. Vetkoek and amagwinya stall near taxi ranks or schools,
3. Shisanyama/braai stand outside taverns,
4. Ice-cream or aba qhoqho sales from a home freezer, or
5. Spices and sauce packaging in small sachets.

Personal care, hair and beauty

1. Mobile barbering with portable clippers,
2. Door-to-door hair braiding and weaves,
3. Nail technician with gel-polish home visits,
4. Lash extensions and micro-threading, or
5. Dreadlocks maintenance and washing.

Domestic cleaning services

1. Mobile car wash with basic hose and sponges,
2. Sneaker cleaning and whitening,
3. Wheelie-bin cleaning on collection days,
4. Pest control for ants, cockroaches, and bedbugs, or
5. Gutter clearing before the rainy season.

Also read: Department of employment and labour warns of deepening jobs crisis after labour force survey results

Digital, media, and secretarial

1. WhatsApp community billboard for local ads,
2. Wi-Fi hotspot reselling via vouchers,
3. Power-bank charging station during load-shedding,
4. SARS eFiling and South African Social Security Agency online help, or
5. Tech tutoring for seniors on banking apps.

Logistics, errands, and transport

1. Queue-standing at Home Affairs or Driving Licence Testing Centres,
2. Grocery and prescription delivery by foot or bicycle,
3. School-scholar escort for primary children,
4. Gas-bottle delivery of 9kg cylinders, or
5. Bicycle courier for last-mile spaza orders,

Retail, reselling, and manufacturing

1. Thrift clothing from clothing bales resold online,
2. Cleaned pre-owned sneaker trading,
3. Cleaning-chemical repackaging from bulk drums,
4. Custom T-shirt vinyl printing, or
5. Handmade earring and beadwork jewellery.

Also read: New bill targets employment of undocumented foreign nationals

Agriculture, education, and community services

1. Indoor oyster-mushroom cultivation,
2. Backyard layer hens for daily eggs,
3. Seedling nursery trays for home gardeners,
4. Compost made from organic waste, or
5. Township walking tours in Soweto or Alex.

Support can be found from the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), City of Johannesburg opportunity centres, the Jobs Fund, and the SAB Foundation.

• SEDA gives free business plans, compliance advice, and equipment funding through its township and rural entrepreneurship programme,
• NYDA offers grants from R1 000 to R100 000 for youth aged 18–35, plus branding vouchers,
• City of Johannesburg opportunity centres in Alexandra, Diepsloot, Soweto, Eldorado Park, and the central business districts help with Companies and Intellectual Property Commission registration, tax and, mentorship, and
• The Jobs Fund and SAB Foundation provide social-innovation grants, pitch competitions, and seed capital for township micro-enterprises.
  These distinctive ideas show how limited capital and local knowledge can turn everyday township needs into steady income.

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