South Africa’s overall unemployment rate currently stands at around 32% with the youth population facing a high rate of nearly 45%. Despite these challenges, many young South Africans continue to show ambition and creativity in various fields. They are finding innovative ways to pursue their goals and dreams often with little to no support.
With better access to essential resources like affordable printing for job applications, these individuals have the potential to turn ambition into achievement.
A report by Youth Capital noted that the average young jobseeker in SA spends R500–R1,000 a month looking for work, a chunk of that goes to printing documents.
That is before you factor in the time and money it takes to get to the printer. Similarly, small businesses struggle scraping together the capital to print signage, promotional material and everything else needed to make their business a success. Whether it’s trying to apply for work, launch a small business, or promote a local service, access to affordable professional printing can be a gatekeeper to opportunity.
This lack of access can be particularly damaging in the ‘township Kasi economy’ where innovation and ingenuity can be stifled by the inability to turn ideas into reality. The Kasi economy refers to the informal and small business activities within South Africa’s townships. As a vibrant and under-celebrated powerhouse, the Kasi economy is responsible for roughly 17% of South Africa’s total employment, with a consumer market worth billions. It’s here that the real ingenuity of South Africans shines. But even the most determined entrepreneurs can be held back by something as basic as the high cost of outsourcing promotional materials. That’s where Epson’s SureColor series of large-format printers is making a tangible difference.
“Township economies are bursting with ideas, what’s often missing are the tools to turn those ideas into businesses,” says Joel Chetty, Sales Manager, C&I at Epson South Africa. “By enabling local entrepreneurs to produce their own signage, branding, and marketing materials, we’re giving them the power to change their circumstances.”
Many township businesses rely on external printers for flyers, signage, and promotional materials, a costly dependency that eats into already tight margins. Bringing printing in-house not only reduces expenses but also unlocks new income opportunities. For many young entrepreneurs, access to reliable printing is the difference between a side hustle and a sustainable business.
“As someone who’s worked with crafters across the region, I’ve seen how the right tools can turn creativity into real income. With Epson’s sublimation printer and Cricut’s smart cutting and heat tools, township entrepreneurs can produce professional-quality products from branded mugs to custom T-shirts, right from their living rooms,” says Jowilna Nolte, Consumer Marketing Manager at Cricut MET&A.
It’s time to start seeing townships not just as under-resourced areas, but as investment-ready ecosystems. Doing that means moving away from a system that gives people fish and moving towards one that equips them with fishing rods. When you put the right tools in people’s hands, printers included, they don’t just print CVs. They print a future.