Massmart said its Game chain had 96 stores in South Africa on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. The retailer had about 150 branches across the country in 2019.
The shrinking store network comes as more shoppers move to buying online, MyBroadband reported. Game’s own online shop also appears to be struggling.
“Regarding online orders, we take customer concerns seriously and are committed to resolving issues that arise,” Massmart told MyBroadband.
Game has a rating of 1.1 out of 5 stars on the review site Hellopeter. Many of its low scores relate to complaints about online orders.
One shopper said they paid R7,999 for an order placed on 26 August 2026. The order later showed as failed, and no goods arrived.
“R7,999.00 was successfully debited from my bank account. The Game order subsequently reflected as failed. No goods were supplied to me,” the shopper wrote on 12 October 2026.
The customer said Game’s order information promised a refund within two days. More than a month later, the money had still not been paid back.
“On 8 September 2026, Game confirmed to me in writing that my matter had been ‘escalated to our head office for refund processing’. Despite the written confirmation, it has still not been paid,” they said.
The shopper said they have sent Massmart a formal letter of demand. They also took the matter to consumer complaint channels.
Another shopper posted a 1-star review on 9 October 2026. Game cancelled their order because the product was out of stock.
The customer said the refund was dated 7 September 2026 and should have taken a few working days. “It’s a month later. I am still without my money,” they wrote.
At least four other complaints about cancelled online orders without refunds have been posted on Hellopeter since the start of October 2026, MyBroadband said.
An earlier count found that Game’s network fell from 150 stores in 2019 to about 122 in July 2024. Exact numbers for 2025 and 2026 are not public.
In February, Massmart confirmed it was thinking about closing around 20 more Game stores. This depended on talks with workers who could be affected.
MyBroadband first heard of the plan from a KwaZulu-Natal business owner. That person had received a job application from a Game worker facing possible retrenchment.
The worker said five KwaZulu-Natal stores were closing, in Amanzimtoti, Ballito, Richards Bay, Pietermaritzburg and Westville. More were set to close in other provinces, the worker said.
If all 20 closures went ahead, Game would have been left with 102 stores. The new figure of 96 suggests six more stores have quietly closed.
Massmart has said before that the smaller Game network does not mean the end of the brand in South Africa.
Some Game shoppers may also be moving to Walmart-branded stores. SA Corporate Real Estate owns East Point Shopping Centre, where a Walmart replaced a Game store.
The company said Walmart’s trading density was 28.7% higher than Game’s in its first four months. “Walmart commenced trading at East Point in March 2026 and has already outperformed the Game store it replaced,” it said.
Source: this article is based on reporting by MyBroadband. Image: MyBroadband. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.