The article highlights the journey of Tlangelani Pearl Mamba, a 38-year-old woman from Mpumalanga who transitioned from selling homemade atchar on the side to securing a formal job as a car sales executive.Despite losing her grandmother and facing depression, Mamba's perseverance led to her success.Her story underscores the importance of informal side hustles in South Africa's economy, which provide livelihoods and skills development.Research suggests the informal sector can create jobs faster than the formal economy.

The piece calls for recognizing these entrepreneurs, who operate in townships through tuck shops, repair workshops, and stokvels, and emphasizes the need for market access to scale their businesses.

With high youth unemployment, the article argues that informal hustles are vital for survival and economic growth, offering a foundation for future opportunities.