Shopper spends just over R1 million during Black Friday in travel and tourism sector

In a day filled with remarkable purchasing activity, the standout transaction so far from this year's Black Friday in South Africa was an eye-catching R1,090,756.00 recorded in the Travel and Tourism sector.

This lucrative sale demonstrated consumer confidence but also illustrated how essential services and luxury travel offerings have piqued interest among South Africa's holiday shoppers.

South Africa's digital commerce landscape took a vibrant turn this Black Friday, as Peach Payments reported a staggering growth of over 80% in digital transactions compared to the entirety of last year's weekend event.

The company's real-time transaction dashboard, accessible at Peach Payments Black Friday Dashboard, highlighted the rapid increase in consumer spending as shoppers flock to online platforms hunting for the best deals.

The dashboard showcased live transaction data, payment methods, provincial breakdowns, and even a real-time ticker displaying individual transaction values.

“Peach Payment’s Black Friday Dashboard has become a staple for our merchants. It bolsters consumer confidence and facilitates scalable growth,” said Joshua Shimkin, Head of Marketing at Peach Payments.

His comments underscore the modern reality of e-commerce in South Africa, where digital transactions are increasingly becoming integral to consumer behaviour.

A recent report titled Online Retail in South Africa 2025, created by World Wide Worx in conjunction with Mastercard, Peach Payments, and Ask Afrika, forecasted a robust e-commerce turnover of over R130 billion by the close of 2025, representing nearly 10% of the country's total retail market.

The report reveals staggering growth figures, with online retail expanding by an impressive 35% in 2024, bringing its total to R96 billion and accounting for 8% of retail sales.

Furthermore, this momentum has continued in 2025, with projections indicating an annualised growth rate of 38%, significantly outpacing the sluggish 1.6% increase in physical retail during the same period.

This seismic shift marks a structural realignment in South African commerce, embedding digital platforms into the fabric of everyday consumer activities.

“There’s a growing need for education and awareness around online payment systems, which extend beyond just retail to include B2B payments and more. The dashboard allows South Africans to see that we possess world-class technology in our payment systems,” Shimkin said.

Shimkin emphasised the maturation of the online retail sector; “Now, maturity matters as much as momentum. South African retailers have moved beyond merely testing e-commerce, they are now scaling it profitably. The ecosystem is ripe for its next evolutionary phase, characterised by robust payment methods, efficient logistics, and increasing consumer trust.”

BUSINESS REPORT