The main barriers to entry into the formal economy for the township creative economy.

Posted by Floyd Baloyi (Community Manager) on 21 January 2026, 15:20 SAST

Imagine a fashion designer in Soweto who cuts patterns by candlelight during load shedding, or a graphic designer in Khayelitsha who has to travel 20 kilometers just to find a stable Wi-Fi connection to upload their portfolio.

This is the reality for thousands of brilliant minds in South Africa’s "kasi" (township) economy. The township creative sector is a sleeping giant—vibrant, resilient, and overflowing with untapped potential. Yet, despite the talent, a massive invisible wall separates these creatives from the formal economy.

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How could the kasi creative economy drive township economic growth?

Posted by Floyd Baloyi (Community Manager) on 21 January 2026, 14:55 SAST

If you walk through the streets of Soweto, Khayelitsha, or Umlazi on a Saturday afternoon, you don’t just see a residential area. You hear the deep, rattling log-drums of Amapiano shaking the windows of passing taxis. You see street fashion that rivals the runways of Milan, stitched by local designers. You smell the smoke of shisa nyama that attracts foodies from the suburbs and tourists from overseas.

For decades, the township economy has been viewed through the lens of survival—spaza shops and informal trading designed to put bread on the table. But there is a shift happening. A new wave of "Kasi’preneurs" is turning culture into currency, proving that the Kasi Creative Economy isn't just a side hustle; it is a sleeping giant capable of driving serious economic growth.

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