News Desk
After years of anticipation, Amazon.co.za has officially launched in South Africa, marking the e-commerce giant’s entry into its first African market. With 3,000 pickup points, customers will enjoy free delivery on their initial order.
The US-based company launched its South African online store overnight, allowing shoppers to make purchases in rands. While many products are available, some are currently “temporarily out of stock.”
Robert Koen, Amazon’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, assures customers of fast and reliable delivery, emphasizing the company’s commitment to providing a broad selection, including international and local products, alongside a convenient shopping experience.
News of Amazon’s expansion into South Africa surfaced in early 2022, with February 2023 initially targeted for the launch. After ramping up hiring efforts in 2023, an official launch date was announced in October of the same year. Despite maintaining secrecy about its investment level in the country, Amazon released a cryptic announcement in October 2023, teasing the launch of Amazon.co.za sometime in 2024. Meanwhile, third-party sellers have been registering to sell on the platform since then.
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Although Amazon Web Services has been operational in South Africa for years, Tuesday marked the official commencement of the company’s e-commerce operations.
Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, South Africa’s Minister of Small Business Development, welcomes Amazon’s entry, emphasizing the potential for the company to create opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs. She expresses hope that Amazon’s presence will contribute to job creation and help address poverty and inequality.
With its vast e-commerce experience, Amazon is expected to pose significant competition to local players like Takealot. The company joins Temu, a Chinese-owned e-commerce platform, in launching operations in South Africa this year.
Techrectory with Agency Report.
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