South African Online Retail Sales Forecast to Reach R159bn in 2026

South African e-commerce sales are forecast to hit R159bn, representing 10% of total retail turnover.

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As of 2026-09-04 03:00 UTC. Market figures are as the cited sources reported them at that time and may have moved since. This is news, not investment advice.

The Online Retail in South Africa 2026 study produced by World Wide Worx in partnership with Mastercard, Peach Payments, and Ask Africa forecasts e-commerce sales to reach R159bn, a 22.5% increase, representing 10% of total retail turnover. ^[1] Andrea Rademeyer, CEO and founder of Ask Africa, said that convenience has become a stronger motivation for online shoppers than saving money or finding lower prices. ^[2] Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx, stated that the local online retail market has grown from less than 1% of retail turnover to a tenth of the market in a decade, adding almost the value of the entire 2020 online market in a single year. ^[3] Checkers Sixty60 sales grew 34.5% to R25.5bn in the year to June 2026. ^[4] Among online shoppers in South Africa, 12.8% purchased holidays and travel through a web browser, while only 5.1% purchased these items through a mobile app. ^[5] Arthur Goldstuck, CEO of World Wide Worx and editor-in-chief of Gadget.co.za, noted that airline apps are especially useful mainly after someone has bought a ticket rather than during the sale. ^[6] Only clothing had a larger browser lead over app purchasing among the 48 types of products and services covered by the study's question. ^[7]

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Andrea Rademeyer, CEO and founder of Ask Africa, said that convenience has become a stronger motivation for online shoppers than saving money or finding lower prices. · Sunday Times

Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx, stated that the local online retail market has grown from less than 1% of retail turnover to a tenth of the market in a decade, adding almost the value of the entire 2020 online market in a single year. · Sunday Times

Checkers Sixty60 sales grew 34.5% to R25.5bn in the year to June 2026. · Sunday Times

Among online shoppers in South Africa, 12.8% purchased holidays and travel through a web browser, while only 5.1% purchased these items through a mobile app. · Business Day

Arthur Goldstuck, CEO of World Wide Worx and editor-in-chief of Gadget.co.za, noted that airline apps are especially useful mainly after someone has bought a ticket rather than during the sale. · Business Day

Only clothing had a larger browser lead over app purchasing among the 48 types of products and services covered by the study's question. · Business Day

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