Amazon Launches Pop-Up Shops in SA to Celebrate Heritage Month

Amazon brings Shop Mzansi pop-up stores to Cape Town and Johannesburg. (Business Tech)

by Kelebogile Matlou

Amazon will be launching pop-up shops in Johannesburg and Cape Town this September to commemorate Heritage Month and help local entrepreneurs through its Shop Mzansi program. The project allows shoppers to meet merchants, try out local items, and improve relationships between businesses and buyers.

Amazon’s Shop Mzansi storefront, which started shortly after Amazon Online went live last year, focuses on promoting South African-made products. The pop-ups will feature ten carefully selected vendors selling a wide range of locally created products as well as live demonstrations, seller storytelling, and exclusive deals for new Amazon customers.

In Johannesburg the pop-up shop will be located at Mall of Africa from September 18–21. The in Cape Town it will locate at the  Tyger Valley Centre from September 24–28.

Robert Koen, Amazon’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, said the program celebrates South Africa’s creativity and entrepreneurship. While Mpho Modise, Head of Small Business, emphasized that the events will foster personal ties between customers and entrepreneurs.

The pop-up shops are part of Amazon’s larger Heritage Month effort which includes media partnerships, influencer collaborations, and seller profiles. Customers who are unable to attend in person can still browse the complete choice of South African products online using Shop Mzansi or the Amazon app.

This comes after their retail rivals Walmart, announced plans to open its first branded stores in South Africa in the fourth quarter of 2025. Walmart currently owns Massmart (Makro and Game), it will now open its own stores that sell food, fashion, technology, and other items. Official launches are scheduled before the end of October 2025.