By Staff Reporter
JOHANNESBURG-South African shoppers broke spending records this Black Friday weekend, with Capitec clients spending a total of R25.4 billion over Friday and Saturday — a sharp 27% increase compared with the same period last year.
Grocery spending was particularly strong: major retailers such as Shoprite processed the bulk of grocery transactions, while in the online retail space Takealot emerged as the top e-commerce destination and Shein dominated online fashion purchases.
According to Capitec’s data, the surge was not only in volume but also in value: the lender handled up to 500 transactions per second on Friday and close to 600 per second on Saturday morning.
Capitec’s marketing head noted that the method of shopping seems to be shifting. More customers are opting for card or digital payments over cash, and online and in-store purchases are increasingly focused on essentials rather than luxury items.
The data highlights a growing trend in South Africa: Black Friday remains a major spending weekend, and more consumers are embracing online shopping — especially for groceries and household essentials.
