How does Zapper work in South Africa? Local market & competitive edge
October 20, 2025
How to accept online payments in South Africa: A business guide
October 31, 2025With more consumers opting for the convenience of online shopping, offering secure and seamless payment options is now more critical than ever before. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday approaching, small online businesses in South Africa need to gear up for one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. In fact, online retail sales in South Africa are expected to surpass 4% of total retail value by 2025, driven by smartphone adoption and payment innovation.
Understanding the latest eCommerce payment trends can help you position yourself for success, boost sales, and reduce cart abandonment during the upcoming shopping season. In this post, we’ll explore all the current eCommerce stats and top online payment methods that every merchant should know heading into BFCM.
Key South Africa eCommerce Statistics for 2025
- Over 77% of South Africans shop online using mobile devices.
- eCommerce market value: USD 38.5 billion (2025).
- Projected to reach USD 61.5 billion by 2030 (9.8% CAGR).
- Top 3 categories: fashion, electronics, groceries.
- Top 3 payment methods: debit card (58%), PayPal-type services (48%), credit card (30%).
Whether you’re running an online store or preparing to launch your first campaign, these key insights will help you optimise your checkout experience and capture more sales when it matters the most.
In addition to looking at the latest South African online shopping stats, you can also benefit from learning how to accept online payments safely.
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South Africa’s online retail landscape
South Africa’s current online retail scene is dynamic and fast-evolving. And while the growth trajectory is visibly upward, success hinges on adaptability. Which is why we are giving you a snapshot of the South African online retail (eCommerce) landscape in 2025. We cover the standout trends, challenges, and players shaping the market today.
Rapid growth & market size
- The current eCommerce market in South Africa is valued at USD 38.5 billion, and this is expected to grow to USD 61.5 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of about 9.8%.
- Chinese platforms like Shein and Temu are rapidly gaining market share in the clothing, textile, footwear, and leather (CTFL) industries. These platforms captured 3.6% of the South African CTFL retail market (worth R7.3 billion in 2024). They command a combined 1% of the CTFL market in eCommerce, with Shein alone taking 28% of women’s online fashion sales.
Mobile-first and social commerce are exploding
- Mobile is dominating the market with around 77% of consumers shopping online via mobile devices as of early 2025. Online retailers in South Africa are encouraged to optimise for mobile-friendliness through one-thumb use, data-saving interfaces, and progressive web apps (PWAs).
- Social commerce is also booming, projected to drive 30% of online sales with Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok becoming prominent storefronts. Forecasts show that the social commerce market may grow from USD 1.14 billion in 2024 to USD 3.82 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 20%.
Rising competition
- We’re starting to see a spike in competition between local and global eCommerce platforms. Amazon only entered the South African market in 2024, expanding into pet food, groceries, and health supplements, widening its category presence and thus challenging local platforms like Takealot. Other local brands, such as Makro are opening up their platform to individual sellers, adding to the marketplace competition.
Regulatory shifts
- South Africa closed the “de minimis” tax loophole that had been benefiting low-value imports by exempting them from VAT in mid-2025. This resulted in raised prices for global eCommerce giants like Shein, triggering consumer backlash. Then, this also allowed some breathing room for local retailers like Mr Price and TFG, both of which increased investments in stores and tech.
- On 27 April 2025, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) officially welcomed the Western Cape High Court's order suspending the planned 0.5 percentage point increase in the VAT rate, originally set to take effect on 1 May 2025. This increase directly affects small businesses, as they’ll have to pay higher prices for raw materials, equipment, and other business essentials. As a result, many merchants will increase their prices on goods and services to maintain profit margins.
Fintech & payment innovations continue to grow
- A diverse and modern payment ecosystem is emerging, allowing merchants to offer robust and flexible payment methods besides the usual options like debit cards or instant EFTs.
- Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services, such as Payflex or PayJustNow, and digital wallets like Zapper, Snapscan, and Mobile Money, are gaining traction. This spike in interest and popularity is due to how accessible, easy, inclusive, and low-cost these payment options are.
According to the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA), digital wallet usage has grown by over 35% year-on-year, with BNPL transactions expected to double by 2026.
Top online payment methods in 2025
While we already have an in-depth guide on the top payment methods for 2025 , here’s a quick overview of each one so that you’re up to date on what your store should offer.
1. Credit & debit cards
Credit and debit cards, whether Mastercard or Visa, are still the top choice for eCommerce businesses in South Africa. Customers prefer them because they’re easy to use, widely accessible, and trusted. They facilitate instant payments and support recurring billing, which is convenient for both merchants and customers.
2. EFT/Bank Transfers
While EFT bank transfers may not always be instant (they can take up to three business days at times), they remain popular for their security and familiarity. Many customers, especially mature audiences, will feel more at ease paying directly from their bank accounts with a lower risk of fraud. They are also cost-effective for merchants and cater to shoppers without credit cards.
3. Instant EFT
Instant EFT services like Ozow allow your customers to pay directly from their bank accounts in real-time. No cards needed and no waiting time. They are fast, secure, and have a lower risk of chargebacks, which benefits merchants.
4. E-Wallets
E-Wallets cater to your tech-savvy consumers, offering speed and flexibility that on-the-go users need. Platforms like SnapScan and Zapper allow users to pay for goods and services with stored funds or linked accounts. Plus, they’re mobile-friendly, appealing heavily to mobile-first shoppers.
5. Prepaid cards/vouchers
A bit unconventional but growing for a reason, prepaid cards or vouchers such as 1Voucher give unbanked consumers access to online shopping. They also serve as a great way for budget-conscious shoppers to control their spending.
6. Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)
The new big thing on the block is BNPL, and for good reason. Its growing usage is motivated by the fact that many shoppers, especially the younger generations, are making smarter, more budget-conscious decisions.
These solutions, such as Payflex, PayFast, or PayJustNow, let customers split payments into manageable instalments, making expensive items more affordable. For merchants, this means larger basket sizes and higher conversion rates.
7. QR code payments
Quick, contactless, and familiar is exactly what makes QR code-based payments like Scan to Pay and Zapper such a hit among shoppers. Merchants should consider this option for its smooth everyday use, effortless checkout on mobile, and easy implementation.
8. PayShap
PayShap adds another layer of innovation to your checkout process by enabling instant, low-cost payments between banks using just a cellphone number (Shap ID). These were designed for inclusivity, reducing the reliance on cash, and helping more people shop online.
9. Masterpass
Finally, Masterpass is another payment option that simplifies checkout by storing card details securely and allowing payments with a scan or click. This option reduces friction at checkout and supports multiple banks and retailers across the country.
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eCommerce in South Africa: Growth trends by industry and platform
Here’s a quick comparison table to show you the growth trends by industry and platform based on the latest eCommerce insights in South Africa.
|
Industry/sector |
Growth trends 2025 |
Key platforms |
|
Fashion & apparel |
-Explosive growth, especially for fast fashion -Local retailers are investing heavily in omnichannel -Shein & Temu dominate with 37.1% of the online market |
-Superbalist, Shein, Temu, -Zando, TFG, Mr Price |
|
Groceries & FMCG |
-Emerging as the new big growth area -Amazon expanded into groceries in 2024 |
-Checkers Sixty60, Amazon, Takealot, -Pick n Pay asap!, Woolworths Dash |
|
Tech & electronics |
-Stable growth, especially for high-ticket items -Price competition drives adoption for BNPL and credit solutions -Strong presence of local e-tailers |
-Evetech, Takealot -Incredible Connection, Makro Online |
|
Beauty & wellness |
-Gaining momentum due to influencers & social commerce -Niche brands are using D2C models -High conversion rates on Instagram/TikTok |
-Clicks, Dischem, Takealot -Faithful-to-Nature, influencer D2C brands |
|
Home & lifestyle |
-Fueled by middle-class spending -Omnichannel is key: in-store + online -Big players are starting to invest in digital eCommerce solutions |
-Yuppiechef (Mr Price Group), Makro, -@Home, Builders, Coricraft |
|
Luxury goods |
-Driven by affluent consumers -Slow but steady growth -Online luxury purchases are growing via global marketplaces |
-Farfetch, Net-a-Porter -Woolworths, Exclusive Books |
|
Second-hand goods |
-Shift to a sustainability focus -Refurbished & pre-loved categories are growing -Younger shoppers are driving the demand |
-Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace -Yaga, Refurb outlets |
|
Food delivery & quick commerce |
-Micro fulfillment centres + spaza shop pickup models are emerging |
-Mr D, Uber Eats -Pick n Pay asap! -Checkers Sixty60 |
South Africa eCommerce Growth by Channel
Mobile and social channels dominate the digital sales mix. Over 70% of new eCommerce users in 2025 come from social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. WhatsApp commerce is also growing among township and micro merchants.
What these stats mean for SA businesses
So, as a merchant, what can you take away from the above stats and trends? Here’s how you can implement these insights to drive engagement, boost sales, and have happy customers.
Shift to “local-is-lekker”
You can get ahead of the competition by competing where big players can’t, through personalisation, local trust, and niche focus. Yes, the trends are all indicating that Shein, Temu, and Amazon are competing aggressively. However, SMBs can take up some space by offering authentic South African products, crafting their brand around local storytelling, and improving their after-sales service.
Omnichannel is the way to go
Omnichannel will be key for small businesses. This means integrating an online store with physical presence, such as pop-ups, retail partners, and spaza shops.
Partner with local couriers
Building strong partnerships with local courier companies for faster fulfillment and trust can set you ahead of the competition. Partner up with a company that offers township delivery, pickup points, and real-time tracking.
Ensure a smooth checkout
Having a smooth checkout experience is another component you don’t want to miss out on. Every friction point in checkout could mean lost revenue, and the percentage of abandoned carts in SA is not looking good. The solution is to prioritise speed, convenience, and choice through multiple payment options, including BNPL, Payshap, QR codes, wallets, and instant EFT. Merchants that offer at least three payment methods see up to 25% higher checkout conversion rates, according to local benchmarks.
Hot tip: Investing in a payment gateway solution like Netcash allows you to offer various trusted payment methods.
Display trust signals on your site
Add trust signals throughout your checkout page, secure payment badges, clear refund policies, and reliable customer support to further reduce cart abandonment.
Focus on mobile-first
Recent statistics suggest that you should focus on providing a mobile-first design since 77% of people shop online. Ensure your store loads fast, has a one-click checkout, and is data-friendly.
Use social commerce and influencer marketing to promote your business
We see that social commerce is booming, so now is your chance to hone in on it by selling directly through WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, and not just websites. Partner with local creators to further promote your brand on these social media platforms. It allows you to build community trust at a lower cost than big ads.
Bonus tip: Harness the power of search engine optimisation (SEO) and Google My Business to boost visibility and reach, as many consumers still search for products on Google before buying them.
Boost sales by retaining customers
Attracting new customers is good, but keeping them is even better. With rising competition from global eCommerce giants, customer retention becomes more crucial every day. You can use email marketing, WhatsApp bots, or AI tools to upsell to existing customers, for example, recommending related products.
Personalising messaging to customers will make them feel valued and can increase loyalty. To achieve this, you can address customers by their name, keep the tone lighthearted, offer a discount on a product they've shown interest in, or send a reminder of a past purchase.
Rewards and promotional materials, such as subscriptions, loyalty programs, or delivery passes, can also encourage customers to come back.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Final word on eCommerce trends and payment statistics in SA
South Africa’s online retail landscape in 2025 is booming, valued at around USD 38.5 billion and projected to keep growing. Global eCommerce giants like Amazon, Temu, and Shein are competing with local platforms like Takealot and Mr Price, while mobile and social commerce dictate how people shop.
For smaller merchants, success lies in providing smooth, mobile-first checkout experiences, multiple payment options, and personalised, niche services that big platforms can’t replicate.
Social selling is a powerful way to reach new customers. At the same time, loyalty programs, cost-effective payment options like BNPL, and smart logistics partnerships can boost repeat sales and overcome delivery challenges.
Speak to a Payments Advisor today and see how we can help you with your online venture.
Author:
Candice Sergeant
Product Manager
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Candice Sergeant is a digital dynamo at Netcash, where she’s on a mission to help South African businesses level up their online game. As an eCommerce Product Owner, she’s got her finger on the pulse of the latest trends and technologies, constantly seeking out ways to boost sales and streamline operations. With a knack for spotting opportunities and a passion for innovation, Candice is your go-to guide for taking your e-commerce business to the next level.
