Amazon’s plan to take up almost half of the space at River Club raises questions about whether it will launch its online retail business locally to take on the Takealot.
Browsing: Takealot
In a surprise development, Takealot.com has announced that its CEO, Kim Reid, is stepping down from the role. He is not leaving Takelot, though – he will become chairman of South Africa’s largest online retailer later this year.
Naspers and Prosus CEO Bob van Dijk does not expect Amazon.com to enter South Africa’s e-commerce sector “any time soon” given the “really good job” being done by Naspers subsidiary Takealot.com.
Jumia Technologies is looking beyond an immediate target of generating a profit from its pioneering African e-commerce business, laying out longer-term plans to spin off divisions and enter new countries.
Takealot.com, South Africa’s largest online retailer, grew revenue by 41% to $238-million, despite being limited to selling only “essential items” during the hard lockdown earlier this year.
Uber Eats’ South African unit on Thursday expanded delivery offerings, launching an app-based over-the-counter medicines service as it seeks to gain market share in the fast-growing online shopping sector.
Minister Ebrahim Patel has backed down over government’s ban on unfettered e-commerce during level-4 of the lockdown, handing a stunning victory to an industry that has lobbied hard to have the restrictions removed.
Takealot.com CEO Kim Reid said on Friday that if the e-commerce company were to take government to court to challenge its continued ban on e-commerce, it would win – but he hopes it won’t be necessary.
Trade & industry minister Ebrahim Patel has effectively shot down requests by online traders to allow unfettered e-commerce in South Africa, saying doing so would be seen to be “unfair competition”.
The continued ban on unfettered e-commerce, and a possible extension of this ban beyond next Friday, is “incomprehensible”, according to Takealot.com CEO Kim Reid.