Independent · free · checked and dated
How to get things done in South Africa
Plain-language guides for grants, tax, jobs and money. The answer is in the first paragraph. A free checklist sits at the end.
Deadline watch. SARS tax returns for salaried taxpayers are due 23 October — file in 20 minutes with the eFiling guide. NSFAS 2027 applications close 31 October, no extension — the application guide. SASSA Gold Cards have stopped working — how to get your Black Card.
How every guide works
Answer first. Then a tool to finish the job.
- LearnWhat the rule actually is, in plain language. No scrolling for the answer.
- DoNumbered steps with the real buttons, official links and phone numbers. Only channels we have checked.
- DownloadA free checklist, tracker or template so you can finish the thing, not just read about it.
Start here
What do you need to sort out?
If you are in the middle of something stressful, pick the pile it belongs in.
Free tools
Calculators that give you a straight answer
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Seven pillars
- GovernmentSASSA grants and appeals, UIF, SARS eFiling, Smart ID, NSFAS.
- MoneyBudgeting, debt, emergency funds, credit scores, first investments.
- Jobs & CVsCVs that pass the filters, interviews, learnerships, job scams.
- BusinessStart online or grow what you have. CIPC, payments, SEO, ads.
- AI ToolsWhat actually works here, and the AI scams to avoid.
- PropertySoonBuying, bonds, hidden costs, renting rights.
- FamilySoonChild grants, births, schools, wills, maintenance.
Why trust this
What makes this different
Most sites covering this ground are built to farm your clicks. Here is where we differ.
- Every fact carries a dateYou can see when we last checked it, and where it came from.
- We say when we don’t knowWhere official sources conflict, we say so instead of guessing.
- No betting content, everThe biggest traffic category in the country. We don’t touch it.
- Not a government siteWe can’t check your status. We show you exactly how to.
- No ads, no popupsOptional R99 toolkits fund the work. Your attention is not the product.
- Written by a personOne independent publisher in Paarl, not a content farm.
Every guide ends with a free tool. Appeal letters mapped to real decline reasons. A budget sheet built around taxi fare and prepaid electricity. Application trackers, CV templates, checklists.
If a free guide solves your problem, take it and go — that is the whole point. For people who want more, there are small paid packs for specific problems (from R49), a R99 toolkit for each pillar, and free interactive calculators. No subscription, no ads. See everything in the shop →
How To South Africa is an independent publisher based in Paarl, Western Cape. Read the editorial policy, or who is behind this.