It’s been a year since Temu launched in South Africa, and has fast become one of the top e-commerce platforms amongst locals.

Temu

Temu and News24 conducted a survey amongst 1 700 consumers, and among them, one in three said they use they used the platform while close to 40% are monthly active users.

The survey was conducted to gauge the platform’s popularity, savings, and the role in improving access to affordable products, it says.

Amongst those surveyed, 81% recognised it for affordability, and 46% estimates they save over half of their shopping budget when using Temu.

The report also found that 77% of Temu shoppers would recommend the platform to friends and family, reflecting a high level of consumer satisfaction and loyalty.

A Temu spokesperson says it is grateful for the trust and support from consumers in South Africa. “As we celebrate our first anniversary here, we remain committed to offering unbeatable prices on quality products and refining our services to enhance the shopping experience.”

It says the most popular categories are electronics and appliances (41%), home décor and furnishings (37%), kitchenware (32%), and jewellery (31%).

Online shopping continues to grow across South Africa, with 64% of respondents indicating they shop online more frequently than a year ago, it adds.

Top drivers include convenience (72%), the ability to compare prices (56%), flexible shopping hours (53%), and access to a wider range of products (51%).

For 65% of South African respondents, price remains the deciding factor when making purchases. Nearly 81% believe that a factory-direct model, like Temu’s, provides access to high-quality products at significantly lower prices.

Despite Temu’s positive outlook, both Temu and Shein are under threat in South Africa, according to MyBroadband, who says “Their popularity disrupted South Africa’s e-commerce market and, to some extent, put a target on their backs.”

It reports that many local retailers accused the companies of exploiting certain tax loopholes to undercut local pricing. There is also confusion about how orders are taxed; read more on MyBroadband.