South Africa’s Gig Economy Gets A Boost With The Launch of Uptooyoo

In recent weeks, South Africa has found itself in a familiar but uncomfortable debate. Comments suggesting that young people are “basking in the sun” rather than applying for jobs have sparked widespread pushback, particularly among a generation facing one of the toughest employment landscapes in decades.

The backlash has been telling. For many young South Africans, the issue is not a lack of ambition or effort, but a shortage of opportunities. Formal jobs remain scarce, graduate roles are highly competitive, and unemployment among 15–34 year olds continues to sit at crisis levels. Yet across townships, suburbs and cities, young people are still working, creating and building; often informally, often without visibility, and often without support.

That reality is where Uptooyoo enters the picture.

Launching at the start of 2026, Uptooyoo is a South African-built app and web platform designed to help people turn skills into income while they continue searching for formal employment or growing existing businesses. It is not positioned as a replacement for jobs, but as a way for individuals to create opportunity for themselves in the meantime.

“South Africans aren’t short on skill or drive,” says Courtney Wilson, Business Development Manager at Uptooyoo. “What’s missing is access. Too many people are doing real work but relying on WhatsApp groups, word of mouth or chance referrals. Uptooyoo gives those skills a home, visibility and structure.”

The platform is deliberately broad in scope. While trades such as plumbing, gardening, pet grooming and hairdressing remain in high demand, Uptooyoo also caters to the growing number of young people earning through digital work. Writing, coding, podcast editing, social media management, graphic design and AI-related services all sit alongside more traditional services, reflecting how the nature of work is changing.

This matters in a country where creating work is increasingly as important as finding it. For school-leavers, graduates and side-hustlers alike, the ability to build a client base, establish credibility and earn income on flexible terms can make the difference between stagnation and momentum.

Service providers can join the platform for free, set up a professional profile in minutes and begin showcasing their skills. After their first three successful bookings, a low monthly subscription applies, designed to keep entry barriers as low as possible. For digital freelancers, Uptooyoo also offers a secure payment system that protects both clients and service providers by releasing funds only once work has been approved.

“Uptooyoo exists to humanise technology and bring opportunity closer to home,” says Shaheer Lala, Marketing Manager at Uptooyoo. “This is about giving people control. You decide what you offer, how you work and how you grow. It’s your business, on your terms.”

The timing is no coincidence. As debates about youth unemployment, responsibility and access continue, platforms like Uptooyoo point to a more nuanced reality. Many young South Africans are not waiting passively for opportunity. They are actively creating it, often with limited tools and recognition.

In 2026, the conversation around work is shifting. Employment is no longer only about CVs and interviews, but about visibility, adaptability and the ability to monetise skills in a changing economy. Uptooyoo reflects that shift, offering a practical pathway for people who are building something for themselves, one skill and one client at a time.