Walmart opened its first South African store on Saturday, marking the U.S. retail giant’s long-anticipated entry into the African continent as it moves to capture a foothold in one of the region’s most competitive retail markets. The launch drew large crowds before sunrise, with more than a hundred shoppers forming lines outside the new location to seize promotional Black Friday-weekend deals and browse international products that are typically unavailable in South Africa.
Shoppers who waited for hours said they were eager to purchase items such as Drew Barrymore-branded designer countertop air fryers, Labubu collectible dolls and Dr Pepper soft drinks. “I’m actually here for a specific product that you can’t really get in South Africa. It’s a children’s toy, Labubu,” said Refilwe Mabale, who spoke to Reuters while standing in line.
Some customers said they were drawn by hopes of lower prices on sought-after technology items. Tshepo Rambau, 44, said he planned to take advantage of Black Friday discounts. “Hopefully I’ll get them cheaper here,” he said, noting he was searching for Wi-Fi extenders and other electronics.
Walmart said the new store will also offer a sixty-minute online delivery service, placing the U.S. retailer in direct competition with Checkers’ Sixty60 service, a dominant on-demand platform operated by Shoprite, South Africa’s largest grocery chain. Andrea Albright, Walmart’s executive vice president, said in a statement that the store opening represents more than a commercial expansion. “Opening the first Walmart store in South Africa is about much more than a business milestone,” she said. “It is a commitment to helping customers save money and live better by consistently delivering the lowest total cost for the basket of products they need.”
The store is located in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, and has created 80 new jobs, Walmart said. The retailer said it has also partnered with 15 local small- and medium-size enterprises as part of its supply network.
Walmart’s arrival with a fully branded location follows years of speculation about when the company would bring its flagship identity into the South African market. While Walmart already has a sizable presence in the country through Massmart subsidiaries such as Makro, Game and Builders Warehouse, the new storefront marks the first time the Walmart name has appeared on a retail outlet in South Africa.
Industry chatter intensified after TheSouthAfrican and MyBroadband reported that Walmart planned to open its first store inside Fourways Mall in Gauteng. That site, formerly occupied by Game, became the center of speculation after Massmart social-media accounts posted photos in October 2025 showing the recognizable Walmart Spark logo being installed on the building exterior. Days later, additional images showed a nearly complete storefront consistent with Walmart’s branding. A Fourways Mall employee later confirmed to MyBroadband that Walmart was preparing to take over the location, though the store has not yet opened.
Walmart International President and CEO Kath McLay said South African shoppers can expect a broad selection of merchandise, including groceries, household essentials, apparel and technology products. She said the stores were designed to combine affordability and convenience through open layouts, wide aisles and digital tools intended to streamline the shopping experience. According to McLay, the stores will cater to families and emphasize accessible pricing while leveraging Walmart’s global scale.
Reuters
