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💼 💸 The Problem You're Already Solving 💼 💸
But Not Getting Paid For
Phemelo Kebinelang
December 01, 2025
1 DECEMBER 2025
💰THE DIGITAL ECONOMY💰
"S’Phanda Sonke Online – Asambe"
"Empowering Youth and Communities to THRIVE in this DIGITAL ERA!”
“I'm not saying I'm gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.” Tupac Shakur
The Problem You're Already Solving
But Not Getting Paid For
Awe Digital Revolutionary,
You're solving R2 000 problems for free almost everyday.
Someone else is getting paid the same R2 000 for the same solution.
Same problem.
Same solution.
Different bank account.
Let me ask you something that might sting a little.
Last week, how many times did someone ask you for help?
"My sister, how do I post on Instagram?"
"My chief, can you fix my phone?"
"Comrade, can you write this for me?"
"Mzala, how do I use this app?"
You helped them.
For free.
Because that's what we do.
We help each other.
Ubuntu, right?
But here's what's eating at me: While you were helping your neighbour set up WhatsApp Business for free, someone in Sandton charged R2 000 for the same service.
While you were designing a poster for someone's spaza shop "for free, just this once," a freelancer in Cape Town earned R2 500 for an identical design.
While you were teaching your colleague’s friend how to sell on Facebook Marketplace, a digital consultant in Johannesburg invoiced R3 000 for a "social media strategy session" that covered the same thing.
You're solving R2 000 problems daily.
For free.
And the brutal part?
You don't even see it as a "service or an opportunity to generate an income."
You see it as "just helping out."
Meanwhile, someone else packaged that exact help, called it "digital hustling.”
This isn't about Ubuntu vs capitalism.
It’s about recognising that the knowledge sitting in your head, the stuff you give away every single day, is what other people are building empires with.
The digital economy isn't some foreign concept happening "out there."
It's already happening in your township.
In your street.
In YOUR hands.
And you're just not claiming your piece of it.
Here's the reality no one’s telling you clearly: The digital economy isn’t about learning something new.
It’s about monetising what you already know.
Think about your last 7 days.
I’m serious, actually think about it.
What did people ask you to help them with?
Write it down mentally right now:
Someone needed help with their phone → That’s technical support.
People charge R500.
Someone asked you to design something (poster) → That’s graphic design.
People charge R500 per project.
Someone needed help setting up their social media for business → That’s social media management.
People charge R3 000 per month.
You did all of that for free last week.
Someone else charged for the same work.
That’s the R4 000 gap.
Not in terms of skill, but in mindset.
They see their knowledge as a service.
You see it as "just helping."
Here’s the shift that changes everything: What if starting this week, you stopped saying "Let me help you for free" and started saying "I offer that as a service. My rate is R500"?
Not to your family.
Not to close friends who genuinely can't afford it.
But to everyone else.
The neighbour who "just needs this one thing" every week.
The church member who always has "one quick favour."
The acquaintance who only calls when they need tech help.
These people have money for data.
For airtime.
For takeaways.
They can pay R500 for a service that saves them hours of frustration.
But you never ask.
Because you don’t see yourself as someone who "charges for help."
I’m not asking you to "become a digital entrepreneur overnight."
I’m asking you to do something simpler and challenging: Charge for what you’re already doing for free.
Here’s your challenge for the next 7 days:
DAY 1-2: Write down every digital service you’ve provided for free in the past month (tech help, design, social media).
Pick the one you do most often.
DAY 3-4: Create a simple rate card: "I offer [service]. My rate is R[amount]. Available [days/times]." Post it on your WhatsApp status. Not aggressively. Just factually. "FYI: I’m now offering [service] professionally. If you need help, here are my rates."
DAY 5-7: When the next person asks for "quick help" with that thing, say: "I’d love to help! I now offer this as a service. My rate is R250. When would you like to book?"
That’s it.
You’ll lose some "clients" (people who only wanted free help).
But you’ll gain your first paying client.
Maybe it’s R250.
Maybe R300 (you can negotiate for genuine cases).
But it’s no longer R0.
Once you earn that first R300 for something you used to do for free, everything changes.
Because you just proved: The digital economy isn’t "out there."
It’s in your hands.
Right now.
Today.
Asambe!
Your revolution starts now.
🚀 See below, we’re back in full swing, sharing fresh digital economy opportunities, resources, insights and power moves designed for youth who are ready to level up and lead in the digital economy.
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Don’t just scroll past them. Use them. Act on them. Build something that outlives the hype. Own your piece of the digital economy.
Join the movement.
Learn. Create. Launch. Earn.
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