How To Find Local Freelance Work In South Africa

I've personally spent a few years on the South African freelance circuit, and I can tell you it from experience that it is not an easy ride. Starting will be the hardest part and living from referral to referral can be stressful. Some freelancers aren't lucky enough to have built up a reliable network and need to put their services in as many shop windows as possible. Freelancing can be a rewarding avenue if you crave freedom and juggling multiple projects which staves way the boredom. While for businesses freelancers are ideal for sourcing high-quality talent or expertise for a fraction of the cost.

While freelancing is still very much about feast or famine, the good news is that it’s becoming easier and easier to be a freelancer in South Africa.

Why freelancing is important to the South African economy

Freelancing is starting to gain traction globally with results from Deloitte’s 2017 Global Human Capital Trends report indicating that millennials value freelance flexibility with full-time stability. Globally, employers are increasingly offering flexible working arrangements as part of the employment experience, while globally, 8 out of 10 respondents believe demand for skills is driving a trend toward greater use of contingent workers.

While locally according to the Statistics SA employment outlook, the number of permanent, full-time employees has fallen from 11 million to 9.1 million in the past decade, which may sound depressing. However the statistics for temporary employment are not fully up to date, but so far the number has risen from 2.6 million to 3.9 million. That's great news for anyone looking to make a living as a freelancer in the rainbow nation.

1. nichemarket

Yes, this might seem like a shameless plug to promote our services but we love freelancers and want to make sure people can find your services online. Visit our freelance list and click add your business. In 5 minutes you should be up and running and users can now find you online and contact you should they like what you're offering. 

Check out how to create your listing on nichemarket

Protip! If you have done freelance work in the past you can ask clients to review your business on nichemarket so possible new clients can see you have a trusted track record of happy clients.

2. NoSweat

Similar to nichemarket, NoSweat is a platform created by two South Africans, what are the odds? These two were familiar with the nightmare that is trying to find freelance work. And I hate to say it, but finding the work isn’t even the hardest part. NoSweat not only helps freelancers connect with available jobs via the platform but once payment is made, NoSweat deals with the nitty gritty details such as paying your tax to SARS.

Check out NoSweat here: https://nosweat.work/

3. Upwork

This is NOT a South African site but I had to add it to the list simply because of the amount of South Africans using the service. Once you've set up your Upwork profile, you’ll have access to thousands of job listings. When you start searching for work add South Africa or your city as the location and you'll find applicable work near you. I myself found a local freelance client via Upwork, so I can vouch for this method.

Check out Upwork here: https://www.upwork.com

4. People Per Hour

Another international company used by locals, PPH has become really popular for freelance jobs, there are currently over 500 South Africans utilising this massive freelance platform. As with Upwork, add your location filter to South Africa and find jobs near you.

Check out People Per Hour here: https://www.peopleperhour.com/

5. Freelance Cape Town

If you're looking for a more intimate experience or you're already part of the bustling Cape Town freelancing scene then you have to be using Freelance Cape Town. They’re looking for freelancers in all the fields so put your name out there and get networking in the Mother City.

Check out Freelance Cape Town here: https://www.freelancecapetown.com/

Tip! If you're a freelancer in Cape Town and you're looking for a place to set up as a base, you may also want to check out Co-working spaces in Cape Town

6. Rent a Student

Started in 2008, RentaStudent has turned into a popular site for sourcing temporary work. The site has over 50,000 registered students looking for part-time paid work. We offer employers and students many valuable advantages specifically for temporary employment in South Africa.

Check out Rent A Student here: https://www.rent-a-student.co.za/

Bonus tip: If you're a freelancer and you're thinking of casting your net a little wider, you may want to check out the following posts

• How to earn cryptocurrency by freelancing
• How to get the best freelance jobs

Tell us your story

Have you started doing freelance work? How has it helped you? Are there any sites you feel should be listed here? Drop us a comment and let us know

Looking for a local freelancer?

Freelancers make the odd job easier, getting an expert to render various services for a fraction of the cost can be a great way to spend your budget instead of full-time staff. If you need expert advice on various tasks, then check out freelancers listed with us.

Are you looking for local freelance work?

Create your free business listing on nichemarket. The more information you provide about your business, the easier it will be for your customers to find you online. Registering with nichemarket is easy, all you will need to do is head over to our sign up form and follow the instructions. If you require a more detailed guide on how to create your profile or your listing, then we highly recommend you check out the following articles.

• How to create a nichemarketer profile
• How to create a nichemarket business listing

Contact us

If you want to know more about freelancing, don’t be shy we’re happy to assist. Simply contact us

Tags: freelance, south africa