South African Online Shopping Set to Reach R159 Billion in 2026
Online retail is forecast to grow 22.5% this year and reach 10% of all retail for the first time. More parcels make correct addresses matter more.
South Africans are expected to spend about R159 billion online in 2026, up from roughly R130 billion in 2025, according to the Online Retail in South Africa 2026 report by World Wide Worx, published in September 2026 with Mastercard, Peach Payments and Ask Africa.
The headline numbers
- Estimated growth of 22.5% for the year.
- Online sales reach 10% of national retail turnover, the first full year at that level.
- Takealot remains the most-used platform (35.3% of online shoppers), followed by Shein (21.5%) and Checkers Sixty60 (15%).
- Takealot reported its first full-year trading profit, 15 years after launch.
Why it matters for addresses
Every one of those orders ends with a delivery to a street address, a locker or a pickup point. A wrong suburb or postal code is one of the most common reasons a parcel is delayed or returned. The report also notes that delivery times and costs still vary widely outside the big metros, where a correct postal code helps couriers route parcels to the right depot first time.
Before you check out, confirm your code:
Our guide to addressing a parcel correctly covers complexes, estates and phone numbers for couriers.