Black Friday 2025: How some South Africans spent their money
South Africans are set to break spending records this Black Friday, with estimates reaching up to R160 billion.
Image: IOL
This weekend’s Black Friday deals turned into a full-blown spending spree, with analysts forecasting a fresh national record.
According to estimates, total Black Friday weekend spending could reach R146-R153 billion, a 5–10% increase on the roughly R139 billion recorded in 2024.
If consumers continue shopping through the rest of “Black November,” the total spend could even surpass R160 billion, according to IOL research.
Record volumes, big individual splurges
One shopper reportedly spent R500,000 in a single click on Black Friday, a striking example of the surge in high-value transactions, according to Discovery Bank’s Black Friday SpendTrend dashboard.
Another customer reportedly dropped R1 million at a car-rental service in a single purchase, according to data from Absa.
On the everyday side, most consumers stuck to modest basket sizes. The average in-store spend hovered around R455, while average online purchases were about R969, according to Discovery Bank.
According to Capitec, spending on groceries alone during the Black Friday weekend amounted to around R3 billion, with over 10 million grocery transactions processed.
Township economies
Black Friday spending also injected momentum into township economies.
In areas such as Soweto, Tembisa North and Khayelitsha, merchant turnover saw sharp increases compared to a regular November weekend, up to 71% in Soweto, according to Capitec.
For many small and medium enterprises, Black Friday provided a rare opportunity to stock up for the festive season, the bank added.
What does this mean for SA's economy?
The reality is that the Black Friday weekend has become a reliable tool to evaluate household confidence and spending power.
This is according to Anchor Capital's economist, Casey Sprake, who said that Black Friday 2025 “has evolved into a meaningful barometer of consumer sentiment, household resilience, and underlying demand-side conditions.”
With inflation easing and borrowing costs relatively more manageable, consumers appear to be willing to spend, albeit often with a sharper eye on value.
For retailers, the message is clear: Black Friday remains the heavyweight champion of the year.
From bulk-buying on Black Friday to high-frequency restocking in January, South Africans aren’t just spending, they’re navigating each season strategically.