Following an announcement back in October 2023, Amazon has officially launched its shopping platform in South Africa after years of anticipation.

The arrival of the company’s shopping platform comes with a separate domain for South African shoppers: amazon.co.za. Local consumers can also access the platform with the Amazon Shopping App.

According to the company, the platform will offer same-day and next-day delivery for eligible orders. Customers will also receive free shipping on their first order from the platform. After your first order, free delivery will be offered for orders over R500.

“We are excited to launch Amazon.co.za, along with thousands of independent sellers in South Africa. We provide customers with great value, broad selection—including international and local products—and a convenient delivery experience,” Robert Koen, managing director of Sub-Saharan Africa at Amazon, said in a statement.

“From today, customers can count on Amazon.co.za for a stress-free shopping experience, fast and reliable delivery, access to 3,000 pickup points, 24/7 customer support, and easy returns. Customers will also enjoy free delivery on their first order.”

It’s important to note that not all products on the platform are offered by or fulfilled by Amazon. It offers both local and international brands, with thousands of independent sellers also included on the platform.

This is similar to the model offered by Takealot, which Amazon will directly compete against.

One of the pain points the company seems to want to address is parcel tracking. If you’ve ordered from Takealot, you’ll know that the delivery slot is from 8am to 5pm, with no more detailed information offered. However, Amazon says that it will offer parcel tracking with WhatsApp updates.

However, whether Amazon proves to be a superior service remains to be seen.