How to Make Money Selling Airtime in South Africa

South Africans have always been creative about making a plan. From spaza shops on busy corners to backyard salons and weekend markets, there’s always a hustle happening. And one of the simplest, but surprisingly steady ways to earn extra income is by selling airtime and electricity.

With millions of people across the country using prepaid services daily, the demand is constant. And thanks to digital platforms, what used to be a mission with paper vouchers and manual records is now as simple as tapping on a phone or swiping a card machine.

From paper slips to digital hustles

Not so long ago, selling airtime meant keeping a drawer full of paper vouchers and hoping they didn’t get stolen or ruined. In South Africa, airtime vouchers were like gold and just as risky to store.

Fast forward to today, and everything has gone digital. Now, you can sell airtime, data, electricity, and more without keeping a single piece of paper in stock. It’s faster, safer, and, best of all, more profitable.

Why airtime selling works

There’s a reason this side hustle has stuck around. Airtime and electricity are everyday essentials. People can put off buying luxuries, but they can’t risk being disconnected or sitting in the dark.

Selling prepaid services also has other perks:

• It’s affordable to start: You don’t need big capital or fancy tech.
• It fits anywhere: From a small spaza to your smartphone at home, you can make it work.
• It grows with you: Start with airtime, then add electricity, water, gas, DSTV, Telkom payments, and even gaming vouchers as you build your customer base.

Different ways to sell airtime and prepaid services

There’s more than one way to get started, and the method you choose depends on how you want to run your hustle. Here are the most common setups in 2025.

1. Selling airtime from your cellphone

Your phone isn’t just for WhatsApp and TikTok anymore. With even the most basic handset, you can start selling. A customer pays you cash, you send a quick USSD code or SMS to your supplier, and they get a PIN to load their airtime.

It’s simple and quick, and you don’t need much to start. The margins are smaller, usually around 2% to 3%, but it’s a reliable entry point, especially in communities where cash is the main way to pay.

2. Selling from your computer

If you’ve got a computer or run an internet café, Electronic Voucher Distribution (EVD) platforms let you sell airtime, data, and electricity straight from your screen.

You deposit funds into your account, and the system connects you directly to the major networks like MTN, Vodacom, Telkom, and Cell C. The margins are slightly better than selling from a cellphone, between 2.75% and 3.75% and you can track every transaction as you go.

3. Using a portable vending machine

If you’re in a high-traffic spot, like a busy spaza, supermarket, or even a salon, a portable vending machine can take your sales up a notch.

You can either buy the machine upfront or rent it if you want to test the waters first. These machines let you process multiple products quickly and handle bigger volumes, which means your overall earnings can grow a lot faster.

4. Selling with iK Prepaid

For the simplest, most flexible option, iK Prepaid is hard to beat. It works through the iKhokha App or directly on your iKhokha card machine, turning your smartphone or point-of-sale device into a prepaid powerhouse.

Here’s why iK Prepaid is so popular:

• It’s easy to set up: Download the app, sign up, and you can start selling the same day.
• It’s more than just airtime: You can also sell electricity, water, gas, DSTV and Telkom payments, gaming vouchers, and even traffic fine payments.
• You can accept cash or card: Serve more customers without worrying about how they want to pay.
• You see your earnings in real time: Every sale is tracked in the app, so you always know where you stand.

The commissions are solid too. On airtime and data, you’ll earn around 3% with cash payments and about 2% with card transactions. Prepaid utilities like electricity and water pay out around 1% per sale, and you’ll earn a small fixed amount on DSTV and Telkom payments.

Some iK Prepaid merchants are making serious money, selling tens of thousands of rands in vouchers every month - all from the same simple setup.

How much you can earn

Every sale counts, and even small daily transactions add up.

Sell R500 in airtime a day with cash payments through iK Prepaid, and you’ll earn roughly R15 a day. That’s about R450 a month, just from airtime alone. Add electricity, DSTV, and other prepaid services into the mix, and your monthly total climbs without you having to change a thing.

Simple Tips to Boost Your Sales

Once you’re up and running, a few smart moves can help you grow faster:

• Let people know you sell: A sign, a WhatsApp status, or just word-of-mouth can make a big difference.
• Keep your balance topped up: Nothing sends a customer away faster than “sorry, I can’t process that right now.”
• Offer more than airtime: When you sell multiple services, customers have more reasons to come back.
• Accept card payments: With more people going cashless, tapping or swiping keeps your sales flowing.
• Look after your regulars: A little good service goes a long way in keeping customers loyal.

The Future of Prepaid Selling

Prepaid selling has come a long way, and it’s still growing. With digital payments becoming the norm, platforms like iK Prepaid keep evolving, adding new products and features to make life easier for both you and your customers.

That means more ways to earn and more opportunities to build a solid, steady income from a service your community needs every day.

Selling airtime and electricity is no longer just a small side hustle, it’s a smart, reliable way to grow your income and make more money. It’s affordable to start, easy to run, and trusted by the people who need it most.

With iK Prepaid, you can be up and running in minutes, take cash or card payments, and track your earnings without any fuss. Download the iKhokha App, sign up for iK Prepaid, and start selling today. It’s a simple way to help your community stay connected, while you build a steady income stream.