For years, Amazon had surveyed the best of this country's couriers, warehouse providers, and the utmost prime locations for their new head offices and distribution centres in accordance with their plans to expand into the South African market – a change that could take place as early as February 2023 which would precede the release of Amazon's Prime membership programme.
In this same span of time, they have taken to hiring hundreds of South Africans as employees in various roles.
In this same span of time, they have taken to hiring hundreds of South Africans as employees in various roles.
The surety of Amazon's expansion into not only our home turf but other African countries has both consumers and stakeholders alike whispering amongst themselves as to Amazon's intentions amidst privacy concerns and the threat they pose to South African corporations and e-commerce sites such as Takealot, Superbalist, Bidorbuy, Massmart (under which Makro, Game, and Builders Warehouse all function), and many other smaller players, all of which have largely failed to self-improve and adapt to the high standards of first-world markets due to a lack of competition and anti-business/pro-consumer laws which serve to make starting a business in South Africa laborious and complicated.
Evidently, they will all have to start innovating or be rudely awakened.
Notwithstanding, while some businesses such as Takealot appear much more calm and collected, I would even describe their attitude towards Amazon as suspiciously content.
Notwithstanding, while some businesses such as Takealot appear much more calm and collected, I would even describe their attitude towards Amazon as suspiciously content.
In an interview with Bruce Whitfield from The Money Show's ShapeShifter, Takealot Group's CEO, Mamongae Mahlare, had this to say about their imminent arrival
