With the South African economy on a bit of a decline, and food prices very much on the rise, various professionals across the country are trying their hand at freelancing.

While the majority of freelancers in the country do it on the side, there are some who are living the dream and working freelance-only.

So, why are South African’s choosing to freelance? Well, according to the South African Freelancers Association (SAFREA), “freelancing is a choice made for a multitude of reasons, including flexibility, freedom to choose projects and clients and as a way to supplement income.”

Sounds great, right? But freelancing certainly isn’t without its fair share of drama ... 

What are the main issues faced by South African freelancers? SAFREA says they include “low rates, poor client payment practices and exploitation by clients with a ‘take it or leave it’ attitude.”

To try and curb at least one of those issues, SAFREA put out a report (2018/2019 SA freelance media industry rates report) that outlines the suggested rates that media, writing and communications freelancers should be charging.

media update has compiled some of the most important stats from the report and turned it into a bite-size infographic, packed will all the facts.

Check it out:


Do you think that freelancers have an important role to play in growing South Africa’s economy? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

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Wondering how much you should be charging for your freelance gigs? You’ll find the answers right here in our article, The South African freelancer conundrum: How much do I charge?