Hi mate,
nowadays companies look for type + time on type...
That means that if you get your infamous 500 hrs on the bus + your 500 you get somewhere around 1000 TT.
I'd go for line training, so you don't waste your well earned money spent in the type rating.
I know its weird, but thats the freaking market and its not going to change anytime soon.
Fastjet is going to enter the african market soon as first real african LCC so they will need pilots. Airbus has something like 1000 acft to deliver in the next years. Airbus is the acft of choice for many many carriers and in healthy markets that means orders
If i was you i would hang tight on the bus, do the line training, get any job anywhere and build up hours on type.
Just my 2 cents and best of luck!