The American tech giant, Amazon, has extended an invitation to potential South African sellers to enlist their businesses on its platform, starting Tuesday, according to the company’s official statement.
The launch of Amazon in South Africa was previously delayed due to various issues, including a land dispute for its Cape Town offices with local groups.
South Africa, with its expanding middle class, high internet penetration (nearly 75% of the population), and a larger urban population compared to other regional countries, presents a promising market.
E-commerce constitutes about 4% of the country’s retail sector, indicating vast untapped potential. As per a study by World Wide Worx, a market research firm, online retail sales in this advanced African economy surged by 30% to $2.9 billion last year.
Robert Koen, the General Manager for Amazon’s sub-Saharan Africa business, expressed his anticipation for the launch of Amazon.co.za in South Africa.
In preparation for Amazon’s entry, Naspers Ltd.’s Takealot, the leading online retailer in the nation, has been bolstering its offerings. This includes the introduction of one-hour delivery for a range of items, from phone chargers to toys.
Despite providing web services in South Africa since 2004, Amazon has refrained from launching its e-commerce business in the country until now due to challenges such as power outages and poor connectivity in certain areas.