Amazon opening new shops in South Africa

Amazon South Africa has announced the launch of pop-up shops in South Africa, with the e-commerce giant heading to Cape Town and Johannesburg. 

Amazon has announced the launch of its Shop Mzansi Heritage Month celebration, which includes pop-up stores in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Launched shortly after Amazon.co.za last year, Shop Mzansi offers a dedicated storefront for local products and aims to reinforce the company’s commitment to supporting small South African businesses. 

The pop-up showcases a selection of curated locally made products from South African entrepreneurs, allowing customers to engage directly with sellers.

“Heritage Month provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate the incredible creativity, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurial spirit of South African entrepreneurs,” said Robert Koen, Managing Director for Amazon Sub-Saharan Africa. 

“Through our Shop Mzansi storefront and these pop-up stores, we’re creating meaningful connections between local businesses and customers, while demonstrating our commitment to being a positive force in South Africa and fostering growth among small businesses.”

The pop-up stores will be hosted at two of the nation’s largest shopping destinations, including: 

• Johannesburg: Mall of Africa – 18 – 21 September
• Cape Town: Tyger Valley Centre – 24 – 28 September

Each pop-up store will have ten selected Shop Mzansi sellers offering South African products across various categories. 

The shops will feature interactive product demonstrations,  seller storytelling opportunities, and promotional elements, such as app download incentives and special offers for first-time Amazon customers.

“We’re excited to bring the Shop Mzansi experience to life in these physical spaces,” said Mpho Modise, Head of Small Business for Amazon South Africa. 

“While we’re proud of our digital storefront, these pop-ups create an opportunity for customers to meet the people behind the products and develop deeper connections with local businesses.”

The pop-up stores are part of the e-commerce giant Heritage Month campaign, including media partnerships, seller profiles, and influencer collaborations designed to amplify awareness of its local offerings. 

Customers unable to attend the pop-up events can also explore the full range of local products online via the Shop Mzansi storefront or the Amazon app. 

Another international giant is incoming 

Outside of Amazon, the world’s biggest retailer, Walmart, recently announced that it will be opening its first branded stores in South Africa in the final quarter of 2025. 

Walmart is a massive retailer, with over 10,750 stores in 19 countries. The group had total revenue of R11.9 trillion in its 2025 fiscal year, the highest in the world. 

The group said that the plans for a South African launch follow its first growth summit in April, where it drew suppliers from 12 countries across Africa, recruiting small and medium-sized Africa-based suppliers.

Walmart International’s president and CEO Kath McLay said that the  South African stores will offer a wide range of merchandise, including fresh groceries, household essentials, apparel and technology.

Despite launching its official branded stores in South Africa, Walmart has had a presence in South Africa for several years after purchasing Massmart, the owner of Makro and Game. 

The US retail giant acquired 51% of Massmart in 2010, completing its full acquisition of the group in 2022. 

The new Walmart stores should open in Q4, with the group expected to announce official launch dates at the end of October.

Amazon pop-up shops