Amazon Prime launches in South Africa

Amazon has launched its Prime membership service in South Africa, offering members free delivery, exclusive deals, and a subscription to its streaming service, Prime Video.

A Prime membership will cost South Africans  R59 a month or R399 a year, with Amazon also offering a 30-day free trial.

Amazon announced this launch on Wednesday, 3 June, saying a Prime membership entails unlimited free same-day and next-day delivery on a wide range of items with no minimum spend.

Prime members can also enjoy unlimited streaming of exclusive Amazon Originals and international movies and series on Prime Video, along with free gaming with Amazon Luna, with a free monthly Twitch channel subscription.

Amazon Prime members will also receive early access to special deals during events like Black Friday.

Notably, Amazon Family sharing will not yet be offered for Prime members in South Africa.

Alongside the launch of its Prime membership, Amazon also announced that it will offer the first ‘Prime Day’ in South Africa from 23 to 29 June.

Prime Day is Amazon’s annual global shopping event, which offers deals and discounts exclusively available to Prime members . 

“We are thrilled to offer South African customers world-class shopping and entertainment benefits in a single membership through Amazon Prime,” said Robert Koen, Managing Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Amazon. 

“Since launching Amazon in South Africa two years ago, we have built a store our customers love, with a great selection of local and international products backed by a reliable delivery experience.” 

“Launching Prime is the next exciting milestone on our journey in the country, deepening our commitment to becoming a meaningful part of South Africans’ daily lives by offering even more convenience, savings, and entertainment.”

Amazon Prime Vice President Jamil Ghani said the company has seen firsthand how Prime transforms the way members shop and enjoy entertainment around the world, with the service currently available in around 26 countries.

“In every new country we’ve launched, Prime has become an indispensable part of members’ daily lives, saving them time and money while connecting them to world-class entertainment,” Ghani said. 

“Today, we’re thrilled to bring that same promise to South Africa. We look forward to delivering disproportionate value when South African customers experience Prime’s convenience, value, and entertainment – and we’re only getting started.”