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Retail giant Walmart opens its first South African store this week

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2025

First outlet is located at a popular shopping mall close to Johannesburg. Launch strategy emphasises low pricing.

US-based retail giant Walmart is to open its first branded store in South Africa this week. The outlet at Clearwater Mall in Roodepoort, near Johannesburg, opens its doors on Saturday, 22 November 2025. 

Walmart

Walmart operates nearly 11,000 stores in 19 countries. Photo: Walmart

Walmart has a long-standing presence in South Africa through its wholly owned subsidiary Massmart, which operates retail chains such as Game, Makro and Builders. But until now it has not traded under its own name. 

 

According to local media reports, Massmart has also converted one of its Game stores at Fourways Mall into a Walmart. An opening date has not been confirmed. 

 

Walmart’s strategy for its SA launch phase promotes daily low prices, exceptional customer experiences and meaningful community impact. 

 

A press statement emphasises the ‘low-price’ strategy and quotes Miles van Rensburg, Massmart CEO and President, as saying: “Around the world, Walmart’s every day low prices help millions of customers have access to quality products at affordable prices, every day.  

 

“With the opening of our Clearwater store, customers on the West Rand will be able to shop on their own schedule and trust that they will always get an every day low price on their basket of purchases without having to wait for short-term promotions or worrying about constantly changing prices.” 

 

Increased competition for established retailers 

 

In SA, Walmart is up against the likes of Shoprite – the dominant local player which has multiple retail brands competing at different levels of the market – and Pick n Pay. 

 

The US retailer entered the country in 2022, when it fully acquired Massmart. 

 

Globally, Walmart has more than 10,750 stores and numerous e-commerce websites in 19 countries. 

 

In a media statement issued in September, Walmart said SA customers “can also look forward to digital capabilities to enhance their shopping journey”, indicating that it intends to be an e-commerce player as well.  

 

Amazon and local e-commerce giant Takealot.com are among the established key players in that sector. 

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Jason Lottering
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    Dr Kin Kariisa

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    Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
    With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
    Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

    Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

    Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

    • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
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